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Proverbs 24; Proverbs 25; Proverbs 26

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Proverbs 24

1 Don't envy evil people, and don't long to be with them.
2 Their hearts are focused on violence, and their lips speak of trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established.
4 By knowledge rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant wealth.
5 A wise person is mightier than a strong one; a knowledgeable person than a powerful one.
6 You should make war with guidance; victory comes with many counselors.
7 Wisdom is beyond foolish people. They don't open their mouths in the gate.
8 Those who plot evil will be called master schemers.
9 The scheming of fools is sin; people detest mockers.
10 If you show yourself weak on a day of distress, your strength is too small.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death; and from those staggering to the slaughter, don't hold back.
12 If you say, "Look, we didn't know about it," the one who weighs hearts—doesn't he understand? The one who protects your life—he knows. He makes people pay for their actions.
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good. The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.
14 Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being. If you find it, there is a future. Your hope won't be cut off.
15 Wicked one, don't wait secretly at the home of the righteous. Don't destroy their dwelling.
16 The righteous may fall seven times but still get up, but the wicked will stumble into trouble.
17 When your enemies fall, don't rejoice. When they stumble, don't let your heart be glad,
18 or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and he will turn his anger from them.
19 Don't get fighting mad at evil people; don't be envious of the wicked.
20 Indeed, there is no future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 Fear the LORD, my child, as well as the king. Don't associate with those who are rebellious.
22 Disaster comes suddenly from them. Who can know the ruin that both can bring?
23 These are also the sayings of the wise: Partiality in judgment isn't good.
24 Those who say to the guilty, "You are innocent"— the people will curse them. Nations will condemn them.
25 But it will go well for those who rebuke them. A rich blessing will come to them.
26 Those who speak honestly are like those who kiss on the lips.
27 Get your outside work done; make preparations in the field; then you can build your house.
28 Don't be a witness against your neighbor without reason; don't deceive with your lips.
29 Don't say, "I'll do to them what they did to me. I'll pay them back for their actions."
30 I happened upon the field of a lazy person, by the vineyard of one with no sense.
31 Thorns grew all over it; weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was falling down.
32 I observed this and took it to heart; I saw it and learned a lesson.
33 "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little lying down with folded arms"—
34 and poverty will come on you like a prowler, deprivation like a man with a shield.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible

Proverbs 25

1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to hide something and the glory of kings to discover something.
3 Like the high heavens and the depths of the earth, so the mind of a king is unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel will come out for the refiner.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or stand in the place of important people,
7 because it is better that he say to you, "Come up here," than to be demoted before a ruler. What your eyes see,
8 don't be quick to quarrel over; what will you do in the future when your neighbor shames you?
9 Argue it out with your neighbor, and don't give away someone's secret.
10 Otherwise, the one who hears it will vilify you; the slander against you will never stop.
11 Words spoken at the right time are like gold apples in a silver setting.
12 Wise correction to an ear that listens is like a gold earring or jewelry of fine gold.
13 Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day are reliable messengers to those who send them; they restore the life of their master.
14 People who brag about a gift never given are like clouds and wind that produce no rain.
15 A commander can be persuaded with patience, and a tender tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just the right amount; otherwise, you'll get full and vomit it up.
17 Don't spend too much time in your neighbor's house. Otherwise, they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 People who testify falsely against their neighbors are like a club, sword, and sharpened arrow.
19 Trusting a treacherous person at a difficult time is like having a bad tooth or a wobbly foot.
20 Singing a song to a troubled heart is like taking off a garment on a cold day or putting vinegar on a wound.
21 If your enemies are starving, feed them some bread; if they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22 By doing this, you will heap burning coals on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.
23 The north wind stirs up rain, and a person who plots quietly provokes angry faces.
24 Better to live on the edge of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Good news from a distant land is like cold water for a weary person.
26 A righteous person giving in to the wicked is like a contaminated spring or a polluted fountain.
27 Eating too much honey isn't good, nor is it appropriate to seek honor.
28 A person without self-control is like a breached city, one with no walls.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible

Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in the summer or rain at harvest, so honor isn't appropriate for a fool.
2 Like a darting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so an undeserved curse never arrives.
3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Don't answer fools according to their folly, or you will become like them yourself.
5 Answer fools according to their folly, or they will deem themselves wise.
6 Sending messages with a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking down violence.
7 As legs dangle from a disabled person, so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving respect to a fool.
9 Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds someone randomly, so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats foolish mistakes.
12 Do you see people who consider themselves wise? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13 A lazy person says, "There's a lion in the path! A lion in the plazas!"
14 As a door turns on its hinge, so do lazy people in their beds.
15 Lazy people bury their hand into the bowl, too tired to return it to their mouth.
16 Lazy people think they are wiser than seven people who answer sensibly.
17 Like yanking the ears of a dog, so is one who passes by and gets involved in another person's fight.
18 Like a crazy person shooting deadly flaming arrows
19 are those who deceive their neighbor and say, "Hey, I was only joking!"
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossips, conflict calms down.
21 Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire, quarrelsome people kindle strife.
22 The words of gossips are like choice snacks; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 Smooth lips and an evil heart are like silver coating on clay.
24 Hateful people mislead with their lips, keeping their deception within.
25 Though they speak graciously, don't believe them, for seven horrible things are in their heart.
26 They may cover their hatred with trickery, but their evil will be revealed in public.
27 Those who dig a pit will fall in it; those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes; a flattering mouth causes destruction.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible