Study

27. Proverbs of Solomon

    ² Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
   an outsider, and not your own lips.

    ³ Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
   but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

    ⁴ Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
   but who can stand before jealousy?

    ⁵ Better is open rebuke
   than hidden love.

    ⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
   but an enemy multiplies kisses.

    ⁷ One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
   but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

    ⁸ Like a bird that flees its nest
   is anyone who flees from home.

    ⁹ Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
   and the pleasantness of a friend
   springs from their heartfelt advice.

    ¹⁰ Do 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.

    ¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
   then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

    ¹² The prudent see danger and take refuge,
   but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

    ¹³ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
   hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

    ¹⁴ If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
   it will be taken as a curse.

    ¹⁵ A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
   of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
¹⁶ restraining her is like restraining the wind
   or grasping oil with the hand.

    ¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
   so one person sharpens another.

    ¹⁸ The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
   and whoever protects their master will be honored.

    ¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
   so one’s life reflects the heart. Or so others reflect your heart back to you

    ²⁰ Death and Destruction Hebrew Abaddon are never satisfied,
   and neither are human eyes.

    ²¹ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
   but people are tested by their praise.

    ²² Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
   grinding them like grain with a pestle,
   you will not remove their folly from them.

    ²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
   give careful attention to your herds;
²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,
   and a crown is not secure for all generations.
²⁵ When the hay is removed and new growth appears
   and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ the lambs will provide you with clothing,
   and the goats with the price of a field.
²⁷ You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
   and to nourish your female servants.