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.

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.

11  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 smooth 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.

Proverbs 27

Don’t Brag About Tomorrow

1 Don’t brag about tomorrow! Each day brings
its own surprises.

2  Don’t brag about yourself—
let others praise you.

3  Stones and sand are heavy,
but trouble caused by a fool
is a much heavier load.

4  An angry person is dangerous,
but a jealous person
is even worse.

5  A truly good friend
will openly correct you.

6  You can trust a friend
who corrects you,
but kisses from an enemy
are nothing but lies.

7  If you have had enough to eat,
honey doesn’t taste good,
but if you are really hungry,
you will eat anything.

8  When you are far from home,
you feel like a bird
without a nest.

9  The sweet smell of incense
can make you feel good,
but true friendship
is better still.

10  Don’t desert an old friend
of your family
or visit your relatives
when you are in trouble.
A friend nearby is better
than relatives far away.

11  My child, show good sense!
Then I will be happy
and able to answer anyone
who criticizes me.

12  Be cautious and hide
when you see danger—
don’t be stupid and walk
right into trouble.

13  Don’t loan money to a stranger
unless you are given something
to guarantee payment.

14  A loud greeting
early in the morning
is the same as a curse.

15  The steady dripping of rain
and the nagging of a wife
are one and the same.

16  It’s easier to catch the wind
or hold olive oil in your hand
than to stop a nagging wife.

17  Just as iron sharpens iron,
friends sharpen the minds
of each other.

18  Take care of a tree,
and you will eat its fruit;
look after your master,
and you will be praised.

19  You see your face in a mirror
and your thoughts
in the minds of others.

20  Death and the grave
are never satisfied,
and neither are we.

21  Gold and silver are tested
in a red-hot furnace,
but we are tested by praise.

22  No matter how hard
you beat a fool,
you can’t pound out
the foolishness.

23  You should take good care
of your sheep and goats,

24  because wealth and honor
don’t last forever.

25  After the hay is cut
and the new growth appears
and the harvest is over,

26  you can sell lambs and goats
to buy clothes and land.

27  From the milk of the goats,
you can make enough cheese
to feed your family
and all your servants.

Proverbs 28

The Law of God Makes Sense

1 Wicked people run away
when no one chases them,
but those who live right
are as brave as lions.

2  In time of civil war
there are many leaders,
but a sensible leader
restores law and order.

3  When someone poor takes over
and mistreats the poor,
it’s like a heavy rain
destroying the crops.

4  Lawbreakers praise criminals,
but law-abiding citizens
always oppose them.

5  Criminals don’t know
what justice means,
but all who respect the Lord
understand it completely.

6  It’s better to be poor
and live right,
than to be rich
and dishonest.

7  It makes good sense
to obey the Law of God,
but you disgrace your parents
if you make friends
with worthless nobodies.

8  If you make money by charging
high interest rates,
you will lose it all to someone
who cares for the poor.

9  God cannot stand the prayers
of anyone who disobeys
his Law.

10  By leading good people to sin,
you dig a pit for yourself,
but all who live right
will have a bright future.

11  The rich think highly
of themselves,
but anyone poor and sensible
sees right through them.

12  When an honest person wins,
it’s time to celebrate;
when crooks are in control,
it’s best to hide.

13  If you don’t confess your sins,
you will be a failure.
But God will be merciful
if you confess your sins
and give them up.

14  The Lord blesses everyone
who is afraid to do evil,
but if you are cruel,
you will end up in trouble.

15  A ruler who mistreats the poor
is like a roaring lion
or a bear hunting for food.

16  A heartless leader is a fool,
but anyone who refuses
to get rich by cheating others
will live a long time.

17  Don’t give help to murderers!
Make them stay on the run
for as long as they live.

18  Honesty will keep you safe,
but everyone who is crooked
will suddenly fall.

19  Work hard, and you will have
a lot of food;
waste time, and you will have
a lot of trouble.

20  God blesses his loyal people,
but punishes all who want
to get rich quick.

21  It isn’t right to be unfair,
but some people can be bribed
with only a piece of bread.

22  Don’t be selfish
and eager to get rich—
you will end up worse off
than you can imagine.

23  Honest correction
is appreciated
more than flattery.

24  If you cheat your parents
and don’t think it’s wrong,
you are a common thief.

25  Selfish people cause trouble,
but you will live a full life
if you trust the Lord .

26  Only fools would trust
what they alone think,
but if you live by wisdom,
you will do all right.

27  Giving to the poor
will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
everyone will curse you.

28  When crooks are in control,
everyone tries to hide,
but when they lose power,
good people are everywhere.