Proverbs 25; Proverbs 26; 2 Corinthians 9

1 These also are Solomon's proverbs that were copied by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah.

2 It is the glory of God to hide things but the glory of kings to investigate them.

3 [Like] the high heavens and the deep earth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take the impurities out of silver, and a vessel is ready for the silversmith to mold.

5 Take a wicked person away from the presence of a king, and justice will make his throne secure.

6 Do not brag about yourself in front of a king or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people,

7 because it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put down in front of a prince whom your eyes have seen.

8 Do not be in a hurry to go to court. What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you?

9 Present your argument to your neighbor, but do not reveal another person's secret.

10 Otherwise, when he hears about it, he will humiliate you, and his evil report about you will never disappear.

11 [Like] golden apples in silver settings, [so] is a word spoken at the right time.

12 [Like] a gold ring and a fine gold ornament, [so] is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens.

13 Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day, [so] is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him: He refreshes his masters.

14 [Like] a dense fog or a dust storm, [so] is a person who brags about a gift that he does not give.

15 With patience you can persuade a ruler, and a soft tongue can break bones.

16 When you find honey, eat only as much as you need. Otherwise, you will have too much and vomit.

17 Do not set foot in your neighbor's house too often. Otherwise, he will see too much of you and hate you.

18 [Like] a club and a sword and a sharp arrow, [so] is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

19 [Like] a broken tooth and a lame foot, [so] is confidence in an unfaithful person in a [time of] crisis.

20 [Like] taking off a coat on a cold day or pouring vinegar on baking soda, so is singing songs to one who has an evil heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink.

22 [In this way] you will make him feel guilty and ashamed, and the LORD will reward you.

23 [As] the north wind brings rain, so a whispering tongue brings angry looks.

24 Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

25 [Like] cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from far away.

26 [Like] a muddied spring and a polluted well, [so] is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person.

27 Eating too much honey is not good, and searching for honor is not honorable.

28 [Like] a city broken into [and] left without a wall, [so] is a person who lacks self-control.

1 Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time, so honor is not right for a fool.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.

3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey, and a rod is for the backs of fools.

4 Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him.

5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity, or he will think he is wise.

6 Whoever uses a fool to send a message cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.

7 [Like] a lame person's limp legs, so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.

9 [Like] a thorn stuck in a drunk's hand, so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

10 [Like] many people who destroy everything, so is one who hires fools or drifters.

11 As a dog goes back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeats his stupidity.

12 Have you met a person who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 A lazy person says, "There's a ferocious lion out on the road! There's a lion loose in the streets!"

14 [As] a door turns on its hinges, so the lazy person turns on his bed.

15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food. He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.

16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.

17 [Like] grabbing a dog by the ears, [so] is a bystander who gets involved in someone else's quarrel.

18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

20 Without wood a fire goes out, and without gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 [As] charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire, so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.

22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, and they go down into a person's innermost being.

23 [Like] a clay pot covered with cheap silver, [so] is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.

24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech, but inside he holds on to deceit.

25 When he talks charmingly, do not trust him because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.

26 His hatred is deceitfully hidden, but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

1 I don't need to write anything further to you about helping the Christians [in Jerusalem].

2 I know how willing you are to help, and I brag about you to the believers in the province of Macedonia. I tell them, "The people of Greece have been ready [to send their collection] since last year," and your enthusiasm has moved most of them [to act].

3 I've sent my coworkers so that when we brag that you're ready, we can back it up.

4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me, they might find out that you're not ready after all. This would embarrass us for feeling so confident as much as it would embarrass you.

5 So I thought that I should encourage our coworkers to visit you before I do and make arrangements for this gift that you had already promised to give. Then it will be the blessing it was intended to be, and it won't be something you're forced to do.

6 Remember this: The farmer who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest. But the farmer who plants because he has received God's blessings will receive a harvest of God's blessings in return.

7 Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You shouldn't be sorry that you gave or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver.

8 Besides, God will give you his constantly overflowing kindness. Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things.

9 Scripture says, "The righteous person gives freely to the poor. His righteousness continues forever."

10 God gives seed to the farmer and food to those who need to eat. God will also give you seed and multiply it. In your lives he will increase the things you do that have his approval.

11 God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. Your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God because of us.

12 What you do to serve others not only provides for the needs of God's people, but also produces more and more prayers of thanksgiving to God.

13 You will honor God through this genuine act of service because of your commitment to spread the Good News of Christ and because of your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else.

14 With deep affection they will pray for you because of the extreme kindness that God has shown you.

15 I thank God for his gift that words cannot describe.