Today's Reading

Proverbs 25-27

Proverbs Chapter 25
1 - These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 - It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 - The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 - Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 - Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 - Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7 - For 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.
8 - Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 - Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 - Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 - A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 - As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 - As 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.
14 - Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 - By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 - Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 - Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 - A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 - Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 - As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 - If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 - For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 - The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 - It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 - As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 - A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 - It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 - He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Proverbs Chapter 26
1 - As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 - As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 - A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 - Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 - Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 - He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 - The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 - As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 - As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
10 - The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 - As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12 - Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 - The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 - As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 - The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 - The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 - He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 - As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 - So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 - Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 - As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 - The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 - Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 - He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 - When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 - Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 - Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 - A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Proverbs Chapter 27
1 - Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 - Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 - A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4 - Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
5 - Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 - The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 - As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 - Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 - Thine 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.
11 - My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12 - A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 - Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14 - He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 - A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 - Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
17 - Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 - Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 - As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 - Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 - As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
22 - Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 - Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24 - For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25 - The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 - The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 - And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.