1Do not boast about
tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day
may bring forth.
2Let another praise you, and not your
own mouth;
someone else, and not your own
lips.
3Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but provocation by a fool is
heavier than both.
4Anger is cruel and fury
overwhelming,
but who can stand before
jealousy?
5Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6Wounds from a friend can be
trusted,
but an enemy mulitplies kisses.
7He who is full loathes honey,
but to the hungry even wheat is
bitter tastes sweet.
8Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
9Perfume and incense bring joy to
the heart,
and the pleasantness of one's
friend springs from his
earnest counsel.
10Do not forsake your friend and the
friend of your father,
and do not go to your brother's
house when disaster
strikes you--
better a neighbor nearby than a
brother far away.
11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to
my heart,
then I can answer anyone who
treats me with contempt.
12The prudent see danger and take
refuge,
but the simple keep going and
suffer for it.
13Take the garment fo one who puts
up security for a stranger;
hold it in pladge if he does it for a
wayward woman.
14If a man loudly blesses his neighbor
early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.
15A quarrelsome wife is like
a constant dripping on rainy
day;
16restraining her is like restraining the
wind
or grasping oil with the hand.
17As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
18He who tends a fig tree will eat its
fruit,
and he who looks after hismaster
will be honored.
19As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man.
20Death and Destruction are never
satisfied,
and neither are the eyes of man.
21The crucible for silver and the
furnace for gold,
but man is tested by the praisehe
receives.
22Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding him like grain with a
pestle,
you will not remove his folly from
him.
23Be sure you know the condition of
your flocks,
give careful attention to your
herds;
24for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all
generations
25When the hay is removed and new
growth appears
and the grass from the hill is
gathered in,
26the lambs will provide you with
clothing,
and the goats witht eh price of a
field.
27You will have plenty of goats' milk
to feed you and your family
and to nourish your servant girls.
Proverbs 28
1The wicked man flees through
no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a
lion.
2When a country is rebellios, it has
many rulers,
but a man of understanding and
knowledge maintains order.
3A ruler who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves
no crops.
4Those who forsake the law praise
the wicked,
but those who keep the law resist
them.
5Evil men do not understnad justice,
but those who seek the Lord
understand it fully.
6Better a poor man whose walk is
blameless
than a rich man whose ways are
perverse.
7He who keeps the law is a
discerning son,
but a companion of gluttons
disgraces his father.
8He who increases his wealth by
exorbiant interest
amasses it for a nother, who will
be kind to the poor.
9If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
even his prayers are detestable.
10He who leads the upright along an
evil path
will fall into his own trap,
but the blameless will receive a
good inheritance.
11A rich man may be wise in his own
eyes,
but a poor man who has
discernment sees through
him.
12When the righteous triumph, there
is great elation;
but when the wicked rise to
power, men go into
hiding.
13He who conceals his sins does not
prosper,
but whoever confesses and
renounces them finds
mercy.
14Bless is the man who always fears
the Lord,
bu he who hardnes his heart falls
into trouble.
15Like a roaring lion or a charging
bear
is a wicked man ruling over
helpless people.
16A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,
but he who hates ill-gotten gain
will enjoy a long life.
17A man tormented by the guilt of
murder
will be a fugitive till daeth;
let no one support him.
18He whose walk is blameless is kept
safe,
but he whose ways are pervers
will suddenly fall.
19He who works his land will have
abundant food,
but the one chases fantasies
will have his fill of
poverty.
20A faithful man will be richly blesses,
but one eager to get rich will not
go unpunished.
21To show partiality is not good--
yet a man will do wrong for a
piece of bread.
22A stingy man is eager to get rich
and is unaware that poverty
awaits him.
23He who rebukes a man will in the
end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering
tongue.
24He who robs his father or mother
and says, "It's not wrong"--
he is partner to him who
destroys.
25A greedy man stirs up dissention,
but he who trusts in the Lord
will prosper.
26He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is
kept safe.
27He who gives to the poor will lack
nothing,
but he who closes his eyes to
them receives many
curses.
28When the wicked rise to power,
people go into hiding;
but when the wicked perish, the
righteous thrive.
Proverbs 29
1A man who remains stiffnecked
after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed--
without remedy.
2When the righteous thrive, the
people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the
people groan.
3A man who loves wisdom brings joy
to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes
squanders his wealth.
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