Bible Reading Plan

¹ Do not boast^(a) about tomorrow,
     for you do not know what a day may bring.^(b)

² Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
     an outsider, and not your own lips.^(c)

³ Stone is heavy and sand^(d) a burden,
     but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

⁴ Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
     but who can stand before jealousy?^(e)

⁵ Better is open rebuke
     than hidden love.

⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
     but an enemy multiplies kisses.^(f)

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^(g)
     is anyone who flees from home.

⁹ Perfume^(h) 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⁽ⁱ⁾ strikes you—
     better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;^(j)
     then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.^(k)

¹² The prudent see danger and take refuge,
     but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.^(l)

¹³ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
     hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.^(m)

¹⁴ If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
     it will be taken as a curse.

¹⁵ A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping⁽ⁿ⁾
     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,^(o)
     and whoever protects their master will be honored.^(p)

¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
     so one's life reflects the heart.^[a]

²⁰ Death and Destruction^[b] are never satisfied,^(q)
     and neither are human eyes.^(r)

²¹ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^(s)
     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,^(t)
     give careful attention to your herds;
²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,^(u)
     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.