More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These also are (A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

It is the glory of God to (B)conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to (C)search things out.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the heart of kings is (D)unsearchable.
Take away (E)the dross from the silver,
    and (F)the smith has material for a vessel;
take away (G)the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his (H)throne will be established in righteousness.
Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
for (I)it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen
    (J)do not hastily bring into court,[a]
for[b] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?
(K)Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
    and do not reveal another's secret,
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute have no end.

11 (L)A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like (M)a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise reprover to (N)a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    is (O)a faithful messenger to those who send him;
    he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (P)clouds and wind without rain
    is a man who (Q)boasts of a gift he does not give.

15 With (R)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have (S)found honey, eat (T)only enough for you,
    lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,
    lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18 A man who (U)bears false witness against his neighbor
    is like a war club, or (V)a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
    is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 Whoever (W)sings songs to a heavy heart
    is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
    and like vinegar on soda.
21 (X)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
    and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap (Y)burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 (Z)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to (AA)a thirsty soul,
    so is (AB)good news from a far country.
26 Like (AC)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is (AD)not good to eat much honey,
    nor is it glorious to (AE)seek one's own glory.[c]
28 A man (AF)without self-control
    is like (AG)a city broken into and left without walls.
26 Like snow in summer or (AH)rain in harvest,
    so (AI)honor is (AJ)not fitting for a fool.
Like (AK)a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    (AL)a curse that is causeless does not alight.
(AM)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and (AN)a rod for the back of fools.
(AO)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
(AP)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be (AQ)wise in his own eyes.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and (AR)drinks violence.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is (AS)one who gives honor to a fool.
Like (AT)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[d]
11 Like (AU)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is (AV)a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is (AW)wise in his own eyes?
    (AX)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 (AY)The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 (AZ)The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is (BA)wiser in his own eyes
    (BB)than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
    is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws (BC)firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor
    and says, “I am only joking!”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
    and where there is no (BD)whisperer, (BE)quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
    so is (BF)a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 (BG)The words of (BH)a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 (BI)Like the (BJ)glaze[e] covering an earthen vessel
    are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 (BK)when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are (BL)seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 (BM)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
    and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8Do not go hastily out to court
  2. Proverbs 25:8 Hebrew or else
  3. Proverbs 25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
  4. Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby
  5. Proverbs 26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices (A)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, (B)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,[a] said by the Holy Spirit,

(C)“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and (D)the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his (E)Anointed’[b]

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your (F)holy servant Jesus, (G)whom you anointed, both (H)Herod and (I)Pontius Pilate, along (J)with the Gentiles and (K)the peoples of Israel, 28 (L)to do whatever your hand and (M)your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, (N)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all (O)boldness, 30 while (P)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed (Q)through the name of your (R)holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, (S)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and (T)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and (U)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of (V)one heart and (W)soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but (X)they had everything in common. 33 And with great (Y)power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and (Z)great grace was upon them all. 34 (AA)There was not a needy person among them, for (AB)as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and (AC)laid it at the apostles' feet, and (AD)it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means (AE)son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and (AF)laid it at the apostles' feet.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30
  2. Acts 4:26 Or Christ

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