Proverbs 25; Proverbs 26; 2 Corinthians 9 (New Living Translation)

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah. 2 It is God's privilege to conceal things and the king's privilege to discover them. 3 No one can discover the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king's mind! 4 Remove the dross from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. 5 Remove the wicked from the king's court, and his reign will be made secure by justice. 6 Don't demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. 7 It is better to wait for an invitation than to be sent to the end of the line, publicly disgraced!Just because you see something, 8 don't be in a hurry to go to court. You might go down before your neighbors in shameful defeat. 9 So discuss the matter with them privately. Don't tell anyone else, 10 or others may accuse you of gossip. Then you will never regain your good reputation. 11 Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket. 12 Valid criticism is as treasured by the one who heeds it as jewelry made from finest gold. 13 Faithful messengers are as refreshing as snow in the heat of summer. They revive the spirit of their employer. 14 A person who doesn't give a promised gift is like clouds and wind that don't bring rain. 15 Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can crush strong opposition. 16 Do you like honey? Don't eat too much of it, or it will make you sick! 17 Don't visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome. 18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow. 19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person is like chewing with a toothache or walking on a broken foot. 20 Singing cheerful songs to a person whose heart is heavy is as bad as stealing someone's jacket in cold weather or rubbing salt in a wound. 21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. 22 You will heap burning coals on their heads, and the LORD will reward you. 23 As surely as a wind from the north brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! 24 It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home. 25 Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty. 26 If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. 27 Just as it is not good to eat too much honey, it is not good for people to think about all the honors they deserve. 28 A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls. 1 Honor doesn't go with fools any more than snow with summer or rain with harvest. 2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an unfair curse will not land on its intended victim. 3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back! 4 When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation. 6 Trusting a fool to convey a message is as foolish as cutting off one's feet or drinking poison! 7 In the mouth of a fool, a proverb becomes as limp as a paralyzed leg. 8 Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot. 9 A proverb in a fool's mouth is as dangerous as a thornbush brandished by a drunkard. 10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots recklessly. 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. 12 There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise. 13 The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, "I can't go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!" 14 As a door turns back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed. 15 Some people are so lazy that they won't lift a finger to feed themselves. 16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors. 17 Yanking a dog's ears is as foolish as interfering in someone else's argument. 18 Just as damaging as a mad man shooting a lethal weapon 19 is someone who lies to a friend and then says, "I was only joking." 20 Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. 21 A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. 22 What dainty morsels rumors are -- but they sink deep into one's heart. 23 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a common clay pot. 24 People with hate in their hearts may sound pleasant enough, but don't believe them. 25 Though they pretend to be kind, their hearts are full of all kinds of evil. 26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, it will finally come to light for all to see. 27 If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will roll back and crush you. 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattery causes ruin. 1 I really don't need to write to you about this gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. 2 For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to our friends in Macedonia that you Christians in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of them to begin helping. 3 But I am sending these brothers just to be sure that you really are ready, as I told them you would be, with your money all collected. I don't want it to turn out that I was wrong in my boasting about you. 4 I would be humiliated -- and so would you -- if some Macedonian Christians came with me, only to find that you still weren't ready after all I had told them! 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given under pressure. 6 Remember this -- a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten." 10 For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God. 12 So two good things will happen -- the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. 13 You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you. 15 Thank God for his Son -- a gift too wonderful for words!