Study Desk

These also are ^(C1)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

It is the glory of God to ^(C1)conceal a matter, But the glory of ^(C2)kings is to search out a matter.

As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Take away the ^(F1)(C1)impurities from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the ^(C2)smith;

Take away the ^(C1)wicked before the king, And his ^(C2)throne will be established in righteousness.

Do not boast in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the same place ^(F1)as great people;

For ^(C1)it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

Do not go out ^(C1)hastily to ^(F1)argue your case; ^(F2)Otherwise, what will you do in ^(F3)the end, When your neighbor humiliates you?

^(F1)(C1)Argue your case with your neighbor, And ^(C2)do not reveal the secret of another,

Or one who hears it will put you to shame, And the evil report about you will not ^(F1)pass away.

Like apples of gold in settings of silver, Is a ^(C1)word spoken at ^(F1)the proper time.

Like ^(F1)an ^(C1)earring of gold and a ^(C2)jewelry piece of ^(C3)fine gold, Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a ^(C4)listening ear.

Like the cold of snow in the ^(F1)time of harvest Is a ^(C1)faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Like ^(C1)clouds and ^(C2)wind without rain Is a person who boasts ^(F1)of his gifts falsely.

Through ^(F1)(C1)patience a ruler may be persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks bone.

Have you ^(C1)found honey? Eat only ^(F1)what you need, So that you do not have it in excess and vomit it.

Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor's house, Or he will become ^(F1)weary of you and hate you.

Like a club, a ^(C1)sword, and a sharp ^(C2)arrow Is a person who gives ^(C3)false testimony against his neighbor.

Like a bad tooth and ^(F1)an unsteady foot Is confidence in a ^(C1)treacherous person in time of trouble.

Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on ^(F1)soda, Is one who sings songs to ^(F2)a troubled heart.

^(C1)If ^(F1)your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

For you will ^(F1)heap burning coals on his head, And ^(C1)the LORD will reward you.

The north wind brings rain, And a ^(F1)(C1)gossiping tongue brings an angry face.

It is ^(C1)better to live on a corner of the roof, Than ^(F1)in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Like cold water to a weary soul, So is ^(C1)good news from a distant land.

Like a ^(C1)trampled spring and a ^(F1)polluted well, So is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it glory to ^(C1)search out ^(F1)one's own glory.

Like a ^(C1)city that is broken into and without walls So is a person ^(C2)who has no self-control over his spirit.

Like snow in summer and like ^(C1)rain in harvest, So honor is not ^(C2)fitting for a fool.

Like a ^(C1)sparrow in its ^(F1)flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a ^(C2)curse without cause does not come to rest.

A ^(C1)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a ^(C2)rod for the back of fools.

^(C1)Do not answer a fool ^(F1)according to his foolishness, Or you will also be like him.

^(C1)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be ^(C2)wise in his own eyes.

One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.

Like ^(F1)useless legs to one who cannot walk, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

Like ^(F1)one who binds a stone in a sling, So is one who gives honor to a fool.

Like a thorn that ^(F1)sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

^(F1)Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.

Like ^(C1)a dog that returns to its vomit, So is a fool who ^(C2)repeats ^(F1)his foolishness.

Do you see a person ^(C1)wise in his own eyes? ^(C2)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

^(F1)A ^(C1)lazy one says, "There is a lion on the road! A lion is ^(F2)in the public square!"

As the door turns on its hinges, So does a ^(C1)lazy one on his bed.

A ^(C1)lazy one buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

A lazy one is ^(C1)wiser in his own eyes Than seven people who can ^(F1)give a discreet answer.

Like one who takes a dog by the ears, So is one who passes by and ^(F1)meddles with ^(C1)strife not belonging to him.

Like a maniac who shoots ^(C1)Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

So is a person who ^(C1)deceives his neighbor, And says, "^(C2)Was I not joking?"

For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no ^(C1)gossiper, ^(C2)quarreling quiets down.

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a ^(C1)contentious person to kindle strife.

The ^(C1)words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the ^(F1)innermost parts of the body.

Like an earthenware ^(C1)vessel overlaid with silver ^(F1)(C2)impurities Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

One who ^(C1)hates disguises it with his lips, But he harbors ^(C2)deceit in his ^(F1)heart.

When ^(F1)he ^(C1)speaks graciously, do not believe him, Because there are seven abominations in his heart.

Though his hatred ^(C1)covers itself with deception, His wickedness will be ^(C2)revealed in the assembly.

One who ^(C1)digs a pit will fall into it, And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

A lying tongue hates ^(F1)those it crushes, And a ^(C1)flattering mouth works ruin.

^(C1)Do not boast about tomorrow, For you ^(C2)do not know what a day may bring.

Let ^(C1)another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But ^(C1)who can stand before jealousy?

Better is ^(C1)open rebuke Than love that is concealed.

Faithful are the ^(C1)wounds of a friend, But ^(F1)deceitful are the ^(C2)kisses of an enemy.

A satisfied ^(F1)person ^(F2)despises honey, But to a hungry ^(F1)person any bitter thing is sweet.

Like a ^(C1)bird that wanders from its nest, So is a person who ^(C2)wanders from his ^(F1)home.

^(C1)Oil and perfume make the heart glad, And a ^(F1)person's advice is sweet to his friend.

Do not abandon your ^(C1)friend or ^(C2)your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house on the day of your disaster; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

^(C1)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, So that I may ^(C2)reply to one who taunts me.

A prudent person sees evil and hides himself; But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.

^(C1)Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger; And for a foreign woman seize a pledge from him.

^(C1)One who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be considered a curse to him.

A ^(C1)constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike;

He who would ^(F1)restrain her ^(F1)restrains the wind, And ^(F2)grasps oil with his right hand.

As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another.

One who tends the ^(C1)fig tree will eat its fruit, And one who ^(C2)cares for his master will be honored.

As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person.

^(F1)(C1)Sheol and ^(F2)Abaddon are ^(C2)never satisfied, Nor are the ^(C3)eyes of a person ever satisfied.

The ^(C1)crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each ^(C2)is tested by the praise accorded him.

Though you ^(C1)pound the fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, His foolishness still will not leave him.

^(C1)Know well the ^(F1)condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;

For riches are not forever, Nor does a ^(C1)crown endure to all generations.

When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are ^(C1)gathered in,

The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field,

And there will be enough goats' milk for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your attendants.