Proverbs 27
1Do not talk much about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring.
2Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth. Let a stranger, and not your own lips.
3A stone is heavy, and sand is heavy, but to be made angry by a fool weighs more than both of them.
4Anger causes trouble and a bad temper is like a flood, but who can stand when there is jealousy?
5Sharp words spoken in the open are better than love that is hidden.
6The pains given by a friend are faithful, but the kisses of one who hates you are false.
7He who is full hates honey, but any bitter thing is sweet to a hungry man.
8Like a bird that goes away from her nest, so is a man who goes away from his home.
9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so are a man's words sweet to his friend.
10Do not leave your own friend or your father's friend alone, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your trouble. A neighbor who is near is better than a brother who is far away.
11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so I may answer him who puts me to shame.
12A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the fool goes on and suffers for it.
13Take the man's coat who has given himself as trust for what a stranger owes. And hold him to his promise who has given it as trust for a sinful woman.
14He who praises his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning will be thought of as saying bad things against him.
15An arguing woman is like water falling drop by drop on a day it is raining.
16To try to stop her is like trying to stop the wind, or like trying to catch oil in his right hand.
17Iron is made sharp with iron, and one man is made sharp by a friend.
18He who cares for the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who cares for the one he works for will be honored.
19As water acts as a mirror to a face, so the heart of man acts as a mirror to a man.
20The place of the dead is never filled, and the eyes of man are never filled.
21The melting is for silver and the fire for gold, and a man is tested by the praise he receives.
22Even if you crush a fool in a pot used for crushing grain, his foolish way will not leave him.
23Know well how your flocks are doing, and keep your mind on your cattle.
24Riches do not last forever, and a prize does not pass from family to family.
25When the grass is gone, the new plants are seen, and the plants of the mountains are gathered in.
26The lambs will be for your clothes, and the goats will bring the price of a field.
27There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of all your house, and a living for your young women.
Proverbs 28
1The sinful run away when no one is trying to catch them, but those who are right with God have as much strength of heart as a lion.
2When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.
3A poor man who makes it hard for the poor is like a heavy rain which leaves no food.
4Those who turn away from the law praise the sinful, but those who keep the law fight against them.
5Sinful men do not understand what is right and fair, but those who look to the Lord understand all things.
6A poor man who walks in his honor is better than a rich man who is sinful in his ways.
7He who keeps the law is a wise son, but a friend of men who eat too much puts his father to shame.
8He who gets money by being paid much for the use of it, gathers it for him who will be kind to the poor.
9He who turns his ear away from listening to the law, even his prayer is a hated thing.
10He who leads good people into a sinful way will fall into his own deep hole, but good will come to those without blame.
11The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor man who has understanding sees through him.
12When those who are right with God win, there is great honor, but when the sinful rule, men hide themselves.
13It will not go well for the man who hides his sins, but he who tells his sins and turns from them will be given loving.
14Happy is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who makes his heart hard will fall into trouble.
15A sinful ruler over poor people is like a lion making noise or a bear running to fight.
16A ruler who takes much from the people who have little does not have understanding. But he who hates wanting something that belongs to someone else will live a long time.
17A man who is loaded down with the guilt of human blood will run in fear until death. Let no one help him.
18He who walks without blame will be kept safe, but he who is sinful will fall all at once.
19He who works his land will have more than enough food, but he who wastes his time will become very poor.
20A faithful man will have many good things, but he who hurries to be rich will be punished for it.
21To show favor is not good, because a man will sin for a piece of bread.
22A man with a sinful eye hurries to be rich. He does not know that he will be in need.
23He who speaks strong words to a man will later find more favor than he who gives false respect with his tongue.
24He who robs his father or his mother, and says, 'It is not a sin,' is the friend of a man who destroys.
25A proud man starts fights, but all will go well for the man who trusts in the Lord.
26He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.
27He who gives to the poor will never want, but many bad things will happen to the man who shuts his eyes to the poor.
28When the sinful rule, men hide themselves, but when they pass away, those who do what is right become many.
Proverbs 29
1A man who does not listen after many strong words are spoken to him will be destroyed all at once and without help.
2When those who are right with God rule, the people are glad, but when a sinful man rules, the people have sorrow.
3A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but he who goes with women who sell the use of their bodies wastes his money.
4The king makes the land strong by doing what is right and fair, but the one who takes pay for doing wrong, destroys it.
5A man who gives his neighbor sweet words that are not true spreads a net for his own feet.
6A sinful man is trapped by his sins, but a man who is right with God sings for joy.
7The man who is right with God cares about the rights of poor people, but the sinful man does not understand such things.
8Men who speak against others set a city on fire, but wise men turn away anger.
9When a wise man argues with a foolish man, the fool only gets angry or laughs, and there is no peace and quiet.
10Men who kill hate him without blame, but a good man cares for his life.
11A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man keeps quiet.
12If a ruler listens to lies, all who work for him will become sinful.
13The Lord gives light to the eyes of both the poor man and the man who makes it hard for others.
14If the king is fair as he judges the poor, his throne will stand forever.
15The stick and strong words give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
16When the sinful are many, sins become many, but those who are right with God will see their fall.
17Punish your son when he does wrong and he will give you comfort. Yes, he will give joy to your soul.
18Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.
19A servant will not be taught by words alone. For even if he understands, he will not answer.
20Do you see a man who is quick with his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21He who gives good care to his servant from the time he is young, will in the end find him to be a son.
22A man of anger starts fights, and a man with a bad temper is full of wrong.
23A man's pride will bring him down, but he whose spirit is without pride will receive honor.
24He who works with a robber hates his own life. He knows about the bad that will come, but can tell nothing.
25The fear of man brings a trap, but he who trusts in the Lord will be honored.
26Many look for the ruler's favor, but what is right and fair comes from the Lord.
27A sinful man is a shame to those who are right with God, and he who is right with God is a shame to the sinful.
|