25:1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

25:3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

25:4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

25:5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

25:6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

25:7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

25:8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

25:9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

25:10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

25:12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

25:13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

25:14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

25:15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

25:16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

25:17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

25:18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

25:19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

25:20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

25:21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

25:22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

25:23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

25:24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25:25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

25:26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

25:27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

25:28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

26:1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

26:2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

26:3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

26:4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

26:5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

26:6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

26:7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

26:8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

26:9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

26:10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

26:11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

26:12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

26:13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

26:14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

26:15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

26:16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

26:17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

26:18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

26:19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

26:20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

26:21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

26:22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

26:23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

26:24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

26:25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26:26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

26:27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

26:28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

27:1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

27:2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

27:3A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

27:5Open rebuke is better than secret love.

27:6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

27:7The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

27:8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

27:9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

27:10Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

27:11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

27:12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

27:13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

27:14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

27:15A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

27:16Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

27:17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

27:18Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

27:19As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

27:20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

27:21As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

27:22Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

27:23Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

27:24For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

27:25The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

27:26The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27:27And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

28:1The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

28:2For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

28:3A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

28:4They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

28:5Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

28:6Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

28:7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

28:8He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

28:9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

28:10Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

28:11The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

28:12When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

28:13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

28:14Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

28:15As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

28:16The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

28:17A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

28:18Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

28:19He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

28:20A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

28:21To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

28:22He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

28:23He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

28:24Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

28:25He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

28:26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

28:27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

28:28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.