Day 201 of 364

^26:1Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. ^26:2Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest. ^26:3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools! ^26:4Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. ^26:5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. ^26:6One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence. ^26:7Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ^26:8As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool. ^26:9Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ^26:10As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by. ^26:11As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly. ^26:12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. ^26:13The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!” ^26:14As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. ^26:15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. ^26:16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion. ^26:17Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own. ^26:18Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death, ^26:19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?” ^26:20For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. ^26:21As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife. ^26:22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts. ^26:23Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart. ^26:24A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart. ^26:25When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. ^26:26His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. ^26:27Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him. ^26:28A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin. ^27:1Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring. ^27:2Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. ^27:3A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. ^27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy? ^27:5Better is open rebuke than hidden love. ^27:6The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse. ^27:7A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. ^27:8As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home. ^27:9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend. ^27:10Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother. ^27:11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor. ^27:12A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it. ^27:13Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman! ^27:14He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him. ^27:15A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike: ^27:16restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand. ^27:17Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. ^27:18Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored. ^27:19Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. ^27:20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied. ^27:21The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise. ^27:22Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him. ^27:23Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds, ^27:24for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations. ^27:25The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in. ^27:26The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field. ^27:27There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls. ^28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion. ^28:2In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge. ^28:3A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops. ^28:4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them. ^28:5Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. ^28:6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich. ^28:7Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father. ^28:8He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor. ^28:9He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. ^28:10Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good. ^28:11The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him. ^28:12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. ^28:13He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. ^28:14Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. ^28:15As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people. ^28:16A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days. ^28:17A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death. No one will support him. ^28:18Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly. ^28:19One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. ^28:20A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished. ^28:21To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread. ^28:22A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him. ^28:23One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue. ^28:24Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer. ^28:25One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in the LORD will prosper. ^28:26One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe. ^28:27One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses. ^28:28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.