Holman Christian Standard Bible (195 page)

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Authors: B&H Publishing Group

BOOK: Holman Christian Standard Bible
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8
 Don't take a matter to court hastily. 
Otherwise, what will you do afterward
if your opponent humiliates you?
9
 Make your case with your opponent 
without revealing another's secret; 
10
 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you,
and you'll never live it down. 
11
 A word spoken at the right time
is like gold apples on a silver tray.
12
 A wise correction to a receptive ear 
is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.
13
 To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger
is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day;
he refreshes the life of his masters. 
14
 The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist
is like clouds and wind without rain. 
15
 A ruler can be persuaded through patience,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone. 
16
 If you find honey, eat only what you need;
otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit. 
17
 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house;
otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you.
18
 A man giving false testimony against his neighbor 
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. 
19
 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time
is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot. 
20
 Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda.
21
 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 
22
 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the
Lord
will reward you. 
23
 The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24
 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife. 
25
 Good news from a distant land
is like cold water to a parched throat.
26
 A righteous person who yields to the wicked 
is like a muddied spring or a polluted well. 
27
 It is not good to eat too much honey 
or to seek glory after glory.
28
 A man who does not control his temper 
is like a city whose wall is broken down. 
Proverbs
26
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, 
honor is inappropriate for a fool. 
2
 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, 
an undeserved curse goes nowhere. 
3
 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, 
and a rod for the backs of fools. 
4
 Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness 
or you'll be like him yourself.
5
 Answer a fool according to his foolishness 
or he'll become wise in his own eyes. 
6
 The one who sends a message by a fool's hand 
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 
7
 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
8
 Giving honor to a fool
is like binding a stone in a sling. 
9
 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by  the hand of a drunkard.
10
 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by
is like an archer who wounds everyone.
11
 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness. 
12
 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? 
There is more hope for a fool than for him. 
13
 The slacker says, “There's a lion in the road —
a lion in the public square! ” 
14
 A door turns on its hinges,
and a slacker, on his bed. 
15
 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he is too weary to bring it to his mouth. 
16
 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser 
than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17
 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that's not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
18
 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows, 
19
 so is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking! ”
20
 Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down. 
21
 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 
22
 A gossip's words are like choice food
that goes down to one's innermost being.
23
 Smooth lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel. 
24
 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbors deceit within.
25
 When he speaks graciously, don't believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart. 
26
 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
27
 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone —
it will come back on him. 
28
 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs
27
Don't boast about tomorrow,
for you don't know what a day might bring. 
2
 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth —
a stranger, and not your own lips. 
3
 A stone is heavy and sand, a burden,
but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4
 Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy? 
5
 Better an open reprimand
than concealed love. 
6
 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, 
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive. 
7
 A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb, 
but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.
8
 A man wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest. 
9
 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel. 
10
 Don't abandon your friend or your father's friend, 
and don't go to your brother's house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 
11
 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy, 
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me. 
12
 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;
the inexperienced keep going and are punished. 
13
 Take his garment, 
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.
14
 If one blesses his neighbor
with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.
15
 An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike. 
16
 The one who controls her controls the wind
and grasps oil with his right hand.
17
 Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another. 
18
 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, 
and whoever looks after his master will be honored.
19
 As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.
20
 
•Sheol
and
•Abaddon
 are never satisfied, 
and people's eyes are never satisfied. 
21
 A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,
and a man for the words of his praise.
22
 Though you grind a fool
in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,
you will not separate his foolishness from him. 
23
 Know well the condition of your flock, 
and pay attention to your herds,
24
 for wealth is not forever; 
not even a crown lasts for all time.
25
 When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
26
 lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
27
 there will be enough goat's milk for your food —
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants. 
Proverbs
28
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, 
but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 
2
 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, 
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.
3
 A destitute leader who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food. 
4
 Those who reject the law praise the wicked, 
but those who keep the law battle against them. 
5
 Evil men do not understand justice, 
but those who seek the 
Lord
understand everything. 
6
 Better a poor man who lives with integrity 
than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.
7
 A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. 
8
 Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest 
collects it for one who is kind to the poor. 
9
 Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law —
even his prayer is detestable. 
10
 The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit, 
but the blameless will inherit what is good. 
11
 A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
12
 When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing, 
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide themselves. 
13
 The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper, 
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy. 
14
 Happy is the one who is always reverent, 
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. 
15
 A wicked ruler over a helpless people 
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear. 
16
 A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life. 
17
 A man burdened by bloodguilt 
will be a fugitive until death. 
Let no one help him. 
18
 The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong 
will suddenly fall. 
19
 The one who works his land
will have plenty of food, 
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty. 
20
 A faithful man will have many blessings, 
but one in a hurry to get rich 
will not go unpunished.
21
 It is not good to show partiality  —
yet a man may sin for a piece of bread. 
22
 A greedy man is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn't know that poverty will come to him. 

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