The book of PROVERBS - Chapter Twenty Seven

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 neighbour 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 neighbour 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 honoured.

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 for ever,
    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.

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READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS 

Chapter Twenty Seven

Read by David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

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STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

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The book of PROVERBS - Chapter Twenty Six

1

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
    honour 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 honour to a fool.

9 

Like a thorn-bush 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 neighbour
    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 harbour 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.

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READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS 

Chapter Twenty Six

Read by David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

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STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

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The book of PROVERBS - Chapter Twenty Five

 

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 neighbour puts you to shame?

9 

If you take your neighbour 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 neighbour’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 neighbour.

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 honourable to search out matters that are too deep.

28 

Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

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READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS 

Chapter Twenty Five

Read by David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

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STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

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The book of PROVERBS - Chapter twenty Four

1

Do not envy the wicked,
    do not desire their company;

2 

for their hearts plot violence,
    and their lips talk about making trouble.

———————

3 

By wisdom a house is built,
    and through understanding it is established;

4 

through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.

———————

5 

The wise prevail through great power,
    and those who have knowledge muster their strength.

6 

Surely you need guidance to wage war,
    and victory is won through many advisors.

———————

7 

Wisdom is too high for fools;
    in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

———————

8 

Whoever plots evil
    will be known as a schemer.

9 

The schemes of folly are sin,
    and people detest a mocker.

———————

10 

If you falter in a time of trouble,
    how small is your strength!

11 

Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering towards slaughter.

12 

If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

———————

13 

Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
    honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 

Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

———————

15 

Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
    do not plunder their dwelling-place;

16 

for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
    but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

———————

17 

Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
    when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

18 

or the Lord will see and disapprove
    and turn his wrath away from them.

———————

19 

Do not fret because of evildoers
    or be envious of the wicked,

20 

for the evildoer has no future hope,
    and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

———————

21 

Fear the Lord and the king, my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,

22 

for those two will send sudden destruction on them,
    and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Further sayings of the wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise:

To show partiality in judging is not good:

24 

whoever says to the guilty, ‘You are innocent,’
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.

25 

But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

26 

An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

27 

Put your outdoor work in order
    and get your fields ready;
    after that, build your house.

28 

Do not testify against your neighbour without cause –
    would you use your lips to mislead?

29 

Do not say, ‘I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
    I’ll pay them back for what they did.’

30 

I went past the field of a sluggard,
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;

31 

thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.

32 

I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:

33 

a little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest –

34 

and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

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READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS 

Chapter Twenty Four

Read by David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

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STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

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Proverbs 24 NIV (Sweet Is Wisdom To Your Soul)

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