Sermon Central
Proverbs 25-29
More Proverbs of Solomon 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
7it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes
8do not bring
9If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,
10or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
11Like apples
12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. 28Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
1Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
13A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
17Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent
24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. 28A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
1Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
3Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
5Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.
9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
10Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
14If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.
15A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
17As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
18The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
20Death and Destruction
21The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
22Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.
23Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;
24for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. 27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants.
1The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3A ruler
4Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
5Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
10Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.
25The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.
26Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. 28When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
1Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for
5Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.
6Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.
9If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
14If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.
15A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
16When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
18Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
19Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond.
20Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
21A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent.
22An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
23Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
24The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
25Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
26Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice. 27The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.