Proverbs 28:23-30:22
English Standard Version
23 Whoever (A)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than (B)he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is (C)a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man (D)stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will (E)be enriched.
26 Whoever (F)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever (G)gives to the poor will not want,
but he who (H)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When (I)the wicked rise, (J)people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
29 (K)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be (L)broken (M)beyond healing.
2 When (N)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when (O)the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who (P)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but (Q)a companion of prostitutes (R)squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king (S)builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.
5 (T)A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads (U)a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is (V)ensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man (W)sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man (X)knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not (Y)understand such knowledge.
8 (Z)Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is (AA)no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men (AB)hate one who is blameless
and seek the life of the upright.[b]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor (AC)meet together;
the Lord (AD)gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king (AE)faithfully judges the poor,
his throne will (AF)be established forever.
15 (AG)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself (AH)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but (AI)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 (AJ)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where (AK)there is no prophetic vision the people (AL)cast off restraint,[c]
but blessed is he who (AM)keeps the law.
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
(AN)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir.[d]
22 (AO)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 (AP)One's pride will bring him low,
(AQ)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
24 The partner of a thief (AR)hates his own life;
(AS)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
25 (AT)The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many (AU)seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man (AV)gets justice.
27 (AW)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
The Words of Agur
30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.[e]
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.[f]
2 Surely I am too (AX)stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of (AY)the Holy One.
4 Who has (AZ)ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has (BA)gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has (BB)wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all (BC)the ends of the earth?
(BD)What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know!
5 (BE)Every word of God proves true;
he is (BF)a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 (BG)Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me (BH)before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is (BI)needful for me,
9 lest I be (BJ)full and (BK)deny you
and say, (BL)“Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
(BM)and profane the name of my God.
11 There are those[g] who (BP)curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12 There are those who are (BQ)clean in their own eyes
but are not washed of their filth.
13 There are those—how (BR)lofty are their eyes,
how high their eyelids lift!
14 There are those whose teeth are (BS)swords,
whose (BT)fangs are knives,
to (BU)devour the poor from off the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
15 The leech has two daughters:
Give and Give.[h]
(BV)Three things are never satisfied;
(BW)four never say, “Enough”:
16 (BX)Sheol, (BY)the barren womb,
the land never satisfied with water,
and the fire that never says, “Enough.”
17 The eye that (BZ)mocks a father
and (CA)scorns to obey a mother
will (CB)be picked out by (CC)the ravens of the valley
and eaten by the vultures.
18 (CD)Three things are (CE)too wonderful for me;
(CF)four I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.
20 This is the way of an adulteress:
she eats and wipes her mouth
and says, “I have done no wrong.”
21 Under (CG)three things (CH)the earth trembles;
under (CI)four it cannot bear up:
22 (CJ)a slave when he becomes king,
and a fool when he is (CK)filled with food;
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
- Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul
- Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
- Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain
- Proverbs 30:1 Or Jakeh, the man of Massa
- Proverbs 30:1 Revocalization; Hebrew The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal
- Proverbs 30:11 Hebrew There is a generation; also verses 12, 13, 14
- Proverbs 30:15 Or “Give, give,” they cry
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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