NAS - Proverbs Chapter 26 to 28

26 Similitudes, Instructions

¹Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. ² Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. ³A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools. ⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes. ⁶ He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. ⁷ Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool. ⁹ Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. ¹¹ Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. ¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. ¹³ The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!" ¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. ¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. ¹⁷ Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. ¹⁸Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, ¹⁹ So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?" ²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. ²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. ²³ Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. ²⁴ He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart. ²⁵ When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. ²⁷ He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

27 Warnings and Instructions

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; A stranger, and not your own lips. ³ A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them. ⁴ Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy? ⁵ Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. ⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. ⁷A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet. ⁸ Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home. ⁹ Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. ¹⁰ Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. ¹¹ Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches me. ¹² A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty. ¹³ Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge. ¹⁴ He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him. ¹⁵ A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; ¹⁶ He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. ¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. ¹⁸He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored. ¹⁹ As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man. ²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied. ²¹ The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him. ²² Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

²³Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; ²⁴ For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. ²⁵ When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, ²⁶ The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, ²⁷ And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens.

28 Warnings and Instructions

¹The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion. ²By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures. ³A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food. ⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them. ⁵ Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all things. ⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich. ⁷ He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. ⁸ He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. ⁹ He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. ¹⁰ He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good. ¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him. ¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. ¹³ He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. ¹⁴How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. ¹⁵ Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. ¹⁶ A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. ¹⁷A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him. ¹⁸ He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is crooked will fall all at once. ¹⁹ He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. ²⁰A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished. ²¹ To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress. ²² A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him. ²³ He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue. ²⁴ He who robs his father or his mother And says, "It is not a transgression," Is the companion of a man who destroys. ²⁵An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. ²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered. ²⁷ He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses. ²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.