NKJV Bible in 365 Days
Humility, Restraint, and True Friendship — June 18
Proverbs 25-27
Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: 365N 169.1
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 365N 169.2
3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. 365N 169.3
4 Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. 365N 169.4
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. 365N 169.5
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; 365N 169.6
7 For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. 365N 169.7
8 Do not go hastily to [a] court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? 365N 169.8
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; 365N 169.9
10 Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And [b] your reputation be ruined. 365N 169.10
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 365N 169.11
12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. 365N 169.12
13 Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 365N 169.13
14 Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain. 365N 169.14
15 By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. 365N 169.15
16 Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. 365N 169.16
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you. 365N 169.17
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. 365N 169.18
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. 365N 169.19
20 Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. 365N 169.20
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 365N 169.21
22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you. 365N 169.22
23 The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. 365N 169.23
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 365N 169.24
25 As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country. 365N 169.25
26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a [c] polluted well. 365N 169.26
27 It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory. 365N 169.27
28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls. 365N 169.28
Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. 365N 169.29
2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. 365N 169.30
3 A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. 365N 169.31
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. 365N 169.32
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 365N 169.33
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 365N 169.34
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 365N 169.35
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. 365N 169.36
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 365N 169.37
10 [a] The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. 365N 169.38
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. 365N 169.39
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 365N 169.40
13 The lazy man says, “ There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the [b] streets!” 365N 169.41
14 As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. 365N 169.42
15 The lazy man buries his hand in the [c] bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. 365N 169.43
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. 365N 169.44
17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears. 365N 169.45
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 365N 169.46
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” 365N 169.47
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no [d] talebearer, strife ceases. 365N 169.48
21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. 365N 169.49
22 The words of a [e] talebearer are like [f] tasty trifles, And they go down into the [g] inmost body. 365N 169.50
23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. 365N 169.51
24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; 365N 169.52
25 When [h] he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; 365N 169.53
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. 365N 169.54
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 365N 169.55
28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin. 365N 169.56
Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. 365N 169.57
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. 365N 169.58
3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them. 365N 169.59
4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy? 365N 169.60
5 Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed. 365N 169.61
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 365N 169.62
7 A satisfied soul [a] loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 365N 169.63
8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place. 365N 169.64
9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by [b] hearty counsel. 365N 169.65
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 365N 169.66
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me. 365N 169.67
12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. 365N 169.68
13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress. 365N 169.69
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him. 365N 169.70
15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; 365N 169.71
16 Whoever [c] restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. 365N 169.72
17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 365N 169.73
18 Whoever [d] keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored. 365N 169.74
19 As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. 365N 169.75
20 Hell [e] and [f] Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. 365N 169.76
21 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him. 365N 169.77
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him. 365N 169.78
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds; 365N 169.79
24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 365N 169.80
25 When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 365N 169.81
26 The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field; 365N 169.82
27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants. 365N 169.83