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Chapter 26
1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7Like a lame man's legs that hang limp
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds at random
is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer discreetly.
17Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows
19is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
20Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts.
23Like a coating of glazeWith a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text of silver dross over earthenware
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but in his heart he harbors deceit.
25Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,
for seven abominations fill his heart.
26His malice may be concealed by deception,
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Chapter 27
1Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
someone else, and not your own lips.
3Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.
4Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
5Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7He who is full loathes honey,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
10Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,
and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
13Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.
14If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.
15A quarrelsome wife is like
a constant dripping on a rainy day;
16restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.
17As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
18He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man.
20Death and DestructionHebrew Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and neither are the eyes of man.
21The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but man is tested by the praise he receives.
22Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding him like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove his folly from him.
23Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27You will have plenty of goats' milk
to feed you and your family
and to nourish your servant girls.
Chapter 28
1The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
3A rulerOr A poor man who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law resist them.
5Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
7He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
even his prayers are detestable.
10He who leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into his own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.
13He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD,
but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.
16A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,
but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
17A man tormented by the guilt of murder
will be a fugitive till death;
let no one support him.
18He whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
19He who works his land will have abundant food,
but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20A faithful man will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21To show partiality is not good—
yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22A stingy man is eager to get rich
and is unaware that poverty awaits him.
23He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.
24He who robs his father or mother
and says, “It's not wrong”—
he is partner to him who destroys.
25A greedy man stirs up dissension,
but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

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