Proverbs 24

–19–

1 Don’t be jealous of crooks
or want to be their friends.

2 All they think about and talk about
is violence and cruelty.

–20–

3 3 Use wisdom and understanding
to establish your home;

4 let good sense fill the rooms with priceless treasures.

–21–

5 5 Wisdom brings strength,
and knowledge gives power.

6 Battles are won by listening to advice
and making a lot of plans.

–22–

7 7 Wisdom is too much for fools!
Their advice is no good.

–23–

8 8 No one but troublemakers
think up trouble.

9 Everyone hates senseless fools who think up ways to sin.

–24–

10 10 Don’t give up and be helpless
in times of trouble.

–25–

11 11 Don’t fail to rescue those
who are doomed to die.

12 Don’t say, “I didn’t know it!” God can read your mind.
He watches each of us
and knows our thoughts.
And God will pay us back
for what we do.

–26–

13 13 Honey is good for you,
my children,
and it tastes sweet.

14 Wisdom is like honey for your life—
if you find it,
your future is bright.

–27–

15 15 Don’t be a cruel person
who attacks good people
and hurts their families.

16 Even if good people fall seven times,
they will get back up.
But when trouble strikes
the wicked,
that’s the end of them.

–28–

17 17 Don’t be happy
to see your enemies trip
and fall down.

18 The Lord will find out and be unhappy.
Then he will stop
being angry with them.

–29–

19 19 Don’t let evil people
worry you
or make you jealous.

20 They will soon be gone like the flame of a lamp
that burns out.

–30–

21 21 My children, you must respect
the Lord and the king, and you must not make friends
with anyone who rebels
against either of them.

22 Who knows what sudden disaster the Lord or a ruler might bring?

More Sayings that Make Good Sense

23 23 Here are some more sayings
that make good sense:
When you judge,
you must be fair.

24 If you let the guilty go free,
people of all nations
will hate and curse you.

25 But if you punish the guilty, things will go well for you,
and you will prosper.

26 Giving an honest answer is a sign
of true friendship.

27 Get your fields ready and plant your crops
before starting a home.

28 Don’t accuse anyone who isn’t guilty.
Don’t ever tell a lie

29 or say to someone, “I’ll get even with you!”

30 I once walked by the field and the vineyard
of a lazy fool.

31 Thorns and weeds were everywhere,
and the stone wall
had fallen down.

32 When I saw this, it taught me a lesson:

33 t33 Sleep a little. Doze a little. Fold your hands
and twiddle your thumbs.

34 Suddenly poverty hits you and everything is gone!

Proverbs 25

More of Solomon’s Wise Sayings

1 Here are more
of Solomon’s proverbs.
They were copied by the officials
of King Hezekiah of Judah.

2 God is praised for being mysterious;
rulers are praised
for explaining mysteries.

3 Who can fully understand the thoughts of a ruler?
They reach beyond the sky
and go deep in the earth.

4 Silver must be purified before it can be used
to make something of value.

5 Evil people must be removed before anyone can rule
with justice.

6 t6 Don’t try to seem important in the court of a ruler.

7 It’s better for the ruler to give you a high position
than for you to be embarrassed
in front of royal officials.
Be sure you are right

8 before you sue someone, or you might lose your case
and be embarrassed.

9 When you and someone else can’t get along,
don’t gossip about it. t

10 Others will find out, and your reputation
will then be ruined.

11 The right word at the right time
is like precious gold
set in silver.

12 Listening to good advice is worth much more
than jewelry made of gold.

13 A messenger you can trust is just as refreshing
as cool water in summer.

14 Broken promises are worse than rain clouds
that don’t bring rain.

15 Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler
and overcome any problem.

16 Eating too much honey can make you sick.

17 Don’t visit friends too often, or they will get tired of it
and start hating you.

18 Telling lies about friends is like attacking them
with clubs and swords
and sharp arrows.

19 A friend you can’t trust in times of trouble
is like having a toothache
or a sore foot.

20 Singing to someone in deep sorrow
is like pouring vinegar
in an open cut. t

21 t21 If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat.
And if they are thirsty,
give them something
to drink.

22 This will be the same as piling burning coals
on their heads.
And the Lord will reward you.

23 As surely as rain blows in from the north,
anger is caused
by cruel words.

24 It’s better to stay outside on the roof of your house
than to live inside
with a nagging wife.

25 Good news from far away refreshes like cold water
when you are thirsty.

26 When a good person gives in to the wicked,
it’s like dumping garbage
in a stream of clear water.

27 Don’t eat too much honey or always want praise. t

28 Losing self-control leaves you as helpless
as a city without a wall.

Proverbs 26

Don’t Be a Fool

1 Expecting snow in summer
and rain in the dry season
makes more sense
than honoring a fool.

2 A curse you don’t deserve will take wings and fly away
like a sparrow or a swallow.

3 Horses and donkeys must be beaten and bridled—
and so must fools.

4 Don’t make a fool of yourself by answering a fool.

5 But if you answer any fools, show how foolish they are,
so they won’t feel smart.

6 Sending a message by a fool is like chopping off your foot
and drinking poison.

7 A fool with words of wisdom is like an athlete
with legs that can’t move. t

8 Are you going to honor a fool? Why not shoot a slingshot
with the rock tied tight?

9 A thornbush waved around in the hand of a drunkard
is no worse than a proverb
in the mouth of a fool.

10 It’s no smarter to shoot arrows at every passerby
than it is to hire a bunch
of worthless nobodies. t

11 t11 Dogs return to eat their vomit, just as fools repeat
their foolishness.

12 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who says,
“I’m really smart!”

13 Don’t be lazy and keep saying, “There’s a lion outside!”

14 A door turns on its hinges, but a lazy person
just turns over in bed.

15 Some of us are so lazy that we won’t lift a hand
to feed ourselves.

16 A lazy person says, “I am smarter
than everyone else.”

17 It’s better to take hold of a mad dog by the ears
than to take part
in someone else’s argument.

18 It’s no crazier to shoot sharp and flaming arrows

19 than to cheat someone and say, “I was only fooling!”

20 Where there is no fuel a fire goes out;
where there is no gossip
arguments come to an end.

21 Troublemakers start trouble, just as sparks and fuel
start a fire.

22 There is nothing so delicious as the taste of gossip!
It melts in your mouth.

23 Hiding hateful thoughts behind smootht talk is like coating a clay pot
with a cheap glaze.

24 The pleasant talk of an enemy
hides more evil plans

25 than can be counted— so don’t believe a word!

26 Everyone will see through those evil plans.

27 If you dig a pit, you will fall in;
if you start a stone rolling,
it will roll back on you.

28 Watch out for anyone who tells lies and flatters—
they are out to get you.