Proverbs 25

¹These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,

³²Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.

¹This is the word of the Lord that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem:

¹This is the word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

⁹Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

¹This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

²⁹The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

³³O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

³⁴“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”

⁷Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

⁸They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

⁴Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

³You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

²⁹And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore.

³⁰Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

²⁹And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore.

⁹“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

⁷so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹¹“Ask for a sign from the Lord your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.”

²⁰A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.

²¹So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

¹⁸“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.

³A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

²But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.

³And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.

²⁵I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.

²⁶I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”

⁷so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹²Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.

⁷No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence.

⁸Every morning I will remove all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.

⁸A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

²⁸Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.

⁵in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.

³³Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the Lord forever.”

²Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.

²⁷It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

¹⁹It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

¹¹But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

¹⁷And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel

⁶“Ah, Lord God,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

⁷But the Lord told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.

⁷When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:

⁸“When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.

⁵Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

¹⁴I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”

¹⁹It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁵Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

¹⁴To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

⁶A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

³³For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”

¹²There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

²⁶Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”

⁵And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.

⁶But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

¹³A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

¹⁹He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.

²³A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!

⁴The Lord God has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

¹⁰The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

²⁶An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.

⁵Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.

³¹He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

³²He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

⁸Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

⁵Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

⁶The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

⁵A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.

³¹then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your servant.”

³²Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!

¹⁷A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

²⁵Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

²⁵But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.

²⁶For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

⁶Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

⁶Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?

¹¹For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹⁵They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

¹⁶But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

¹¹Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”

¹⁶These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

¹³For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

¹⁴And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

⁴If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

¹A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

⁴He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.

⁵I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and maidservants. I have sent this message to inform my master, so that I may find favor in your sight.’”

²⁴She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.

²⁵My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.

¹⁴Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them.

²⁷It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

¹³Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

¹⁴Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

¹⁵By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.

²⁵Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.

²⁶And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.

³⁴But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

⁴My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

¹⁸Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁸Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

²⁸Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

³What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?

⁴Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!

⁶Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

⁶Then all the people of Egypt will know that I am the Lord. For you were only a staff of reeds to the house of Israel.

⁷When Israel took hold of you with their hands, you splintered, tearing all their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke, and their backs were wrenched.

¹⁴A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,

²⁰Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him.

²¹Although Ahaz had taken a portion from the house of the Lord, from the royal palace, and from the princes and had presented it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

¹⁶At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.

¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

⁴a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

¹⁶If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

²⁶Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.

¹²If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession;

¹³be sure to return it to him by sunset, so that he may sleep in his own cloak and bless you, and this will be credited to you as righteousness before the Lord your God.

⁷Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

²⁰On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

⁴⁴But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

¹⁷Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

⁴If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.

⁵If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.

³³But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

²²“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”

¹²Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

¹³If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you.

²⁰Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

²⁰For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

³who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,

³⁰slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.

²²Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.

⁵Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.

¹⁹Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

⁹Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁵A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—

¹⁶restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

¹³A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

³⁰The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones.

¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

¹A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.

⁶And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.

¹⁵Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.

¹⁶Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.

¹⁷Then God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies.

¹⁸Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

¹⁹Why must My flock feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied?’

⁶⁹Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

⁷⁰But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”

⁸Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

¹⁴Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?

¹⁵Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”

¹⁵who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,

²¹But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the Lord.

²²Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”

²Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.

⁴⁴How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

¹⁶If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.

¹I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

¹¹I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

³²He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

²⁴Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,

³And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

⁵Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

³⁰Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?

¹⁷Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”