Chapter 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;

to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4 Remove the dross from the silver,

and a silversmith can produce a vessel;

5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established through righteousness.

6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,

and do not claim a place among his great men;

7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”

than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

8 do not bring hastily to court,

for what will you do in the end

if your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 If you take your neighbor to court,

do not betray another’s confidence,

10 or the one who hears it may shame you

and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver

is a ruling rightly given.

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time

is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;

he refreshes the spirit of his master.

14 Like clouds and wind without rain

is one who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—

too much of it, and you will vomit.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—

too much of you, and they will hate you.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot

is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on a wound,

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain

is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,

nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through

is a person who lacks self-control.

Chapter 26

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,

an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the backs of fools!

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you yourself will be just like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

or he will be wise in his own eyes.

6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool

is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.

7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 Like tying a stone in a sling

is the giving of honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10 Like an archer who wounds at random

is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,

so fools repeat their folly.

12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for them.

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,

a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting

flaming arrows of death

19 is one who deceives their neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;

without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to the inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,

but in their hearts they harbor deceit.

25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,

for seven abominations fill their hearts.

26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,

but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;

if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Chapter 27

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;

an outsider, and not your own lips.

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,

but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

8 Like a bird that flees its nest

is anyone who flees from home.

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend

springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,

and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—

better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,

it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping

of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

16 restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and whoever protects their master will be honored.

19 As water reflects the face,

so one’s life reflects the heart.

20 Death and Destruction are never satisfied,

and neither are human eyes.

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but people are tested by their praise.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,

grinding them like grain with a pestle,

you will not remove their folly from them.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

give careful attention to your herds;

24 for riches do not endure forever,

and a crown is not secure for all generations.

25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,

and the goats with the price of a field.

27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family

and to nourish your female servants.

Chapter 15

1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;

I will sing the praises of your name.”

10 Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;

let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,

one who will arise to rule over the nations;

in him the Gentiles will hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,

and those who have not heard will understand.”

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.