Proverbs 25:
These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
or stand in the place of the great,
for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.
A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Proverbs 26:
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a sluggard on his bed.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who can answer sensibly.
Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
and harbors deceit in his heart;
when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;
though his hatred be covered with deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 27:
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
One who is full loathes honey,
but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend,
and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning,
will be counted as cursing.
A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
to restrain her is to restrain the wind
or to grasp oil in one's right hand.
Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who guards his master will be honored.
(My master is my tree!)
As in water face reflects face,
so the heart of man reflects the man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and a man is tested by his praise.
Know well the condition of your flocks,
and give attention to your herds,
for riches do not last forever;
and does a crown endure to all generations?
(Your flocks and herds are not your riches.)
When the grass is gone and the new growth appears
and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field.
There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.
(Girls are high maintenance!)
2 Corinthians 6:
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the favorable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
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