Praise and rebuke.
v.1-2 Let others praise you. Do not boast about tomorrow for you don’t know what the day will bring forth (Lk 12:19-20, Jas 4:13-14). Turn to Christ today for this day could be your very last. Don’t procrastinate until tomorrow what you can do today. Don’t boast about yourself, let another praise you (2 Cor 10:18). Use your lips to praise and build up someone else, not to praise yourself.
v.3-4 A stone. A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the resentment (vexation) caused by a fools words and actions is even heavier. Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming (like a flood), but jealousy (envy) is even more dangerous.
v.5-6 Open rebuke. An open rebuke is better than hidden love (28:23). A rebuke allows one to consider the path he is walking on, while hidden love fails to communicate faults. The wounds of a friend are faithful and better than many kisses from an enemy. The kiss of Judas carried a traitorous venom. Rebukes are good and better than silent friendship.

Read Proverbs 27:1-6

Deceptive speech.
v.23 Glaze on pottery. Like glaze on pottery, so smooth words may cover a wicked heart. Take care not to be fooled by the liar.
v.24-26 Smooth words. He who hates disguises his speech but harbors deceit in his heart. Don’t believe his speech for there are many evils in his heart. Though he may cover up his hatred with gracious words, his wickedness will ultimately be exposed to the community.
v.27 Fall into it. The man who digs a pit for his neighbor will fall into it. Never plot against others because it will fall upon yourself.
v.28 Lying tongue. A lying tongue hates its victims and a flattering tongue works ruin. Only pain and ruin will come from deception.

Read Proverbs 26:23-28

Using words carelessly.
v.17 Wild dogs. Don’t meddle in someone else’s quarrel. Doing so is like grabbing a wild dog by the ears. In ancient Israel dogs were not domesticated and ran in wild scavenging packs. Grabbing one by the ears would be inviting serious harm.
v.18-19 Dangerous weapon. Don’t deceive someone as a joke without regard for the consequences. This would be as damaging as a mad man shooting off a dangerous weapon. You should not play jokingly (or recklessly) with a dangerous weapon and likewise not with human relationships.
v.20-21 The fire goes out. A fire will go out if it lacks fuel (wood) to keep it going. Similarly, quarreling stops when there is no whisperer (gossip) (16:28). A quarrelsome person is the fuel to the fire of strife.
v.22 Words of gossip. The words of a gossip are like delicious food (chicken soup) that goes down deep into the soul (the inner parts). Essentially the same as 18:8. Gossip is seductive but the damage goes deep.

Read Proverbs 26:17-22

The Book of Sluggards (v.13-16).
v.13 A lion. The sluggard says “there is a lion in the road!” (so he doesn’t have to go out and work). He may actually believe his comical excuse. Also in 22:13.
v.14 As the door turns. As the door turns on it’s hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. The door swings back and forth but goes nowhere. The sluggard is too lazy to get out of bed and take care of his affairs. See 6:9.
v.15 Too lazy to eat. The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth to eat. Same as 19:24. This could also speak to one who starts a project but is too lazy to finish it.
v.16 Wise in his eyes. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. See v.12. The sluggard thinks he has life figured out, but he is basically lazy.

Read Proverbs 26:13-16

The Book of Fools.
v.1 Snow in summer. Honor is not associated with (or not to be given to) fools any more than rain at harvest time (1 Sm 12:17) or snow in the middle of summer. See also v.8. The fool is the stupid person who is worthless and vain (ebc).
v.2 Undeserved curse. Like a flitting sparrow or a flying swallow (i.e., birds never at rest), an undeserved curse will not land on it’s intended victim (nlt). Blessing and cursing can have a real effect, but an undeserved curse does not.
v.3 A rod for the back. In this third simile in a row, we are told that as a whip is for a horse and a bridle for a donkey, so a rod is for the back of a fool. A fool is like an animal that can only be guided by force.
v.4-5 How to answer a fool. These two verses appear to contradict each other. v.4 says to not answer a fool according to his folly or you will become like him. v.5 says to answer a fool according to his folly or he may become wise in his own eyes. This illustrates that some proverbs are context sensitive, how you answer a fool depends on the situation. Thus v.4 and v.5 do not contradict each other, some issues are complicated and a single rule can’t cover all of the terrain.
v.6 Fool’s message. Do not trust a fool to carry an important message. Doing so is like cutting off your feet (a messenger is like another pair of feet) or drinking violence (i.e., you will suffer harm). See also the lazy messenger at 10:26. You are better off not sending a message at all than sending it by a fool.
v.7 Fool’s proverb. A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang uselessly. He does not understand it, cannot explain it or use it correctly, and has not implemented it in his life (even though he may repeat it).
v.8 Stupid stone. Like a man who binds a stone in the sling is one who give honor to a fool. The stone is suppose to be slung out of the sling and binding it in indicates that he doesn’t know what he is doing and will suffer harm. Likewise giving honor to a fool will cause damage to your reputation when it becomes apparent to everyone that the fool was not worthy of the honor.
v.9 Foolish thorn. A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorn in the hand of a drunkard (23:35). The fool apparently doesn’t realize it applies to him. Like in v.7, he doesn’t understand it or know how to use it.
v.10 Random archer. Like an archer that shoots at random, causing great harm, is an employer who hires a fool or a drunkard.
v.11 Vomit. Like a dog returning to his vomit is a fool repeating his folly. Though it may cause terrible consequences, yet he repeats it. See 2 Pt 2:21-22.
v.12 Wise in his eyes. There is more hope for a fool than for a man who is wise in his own eyes. A fool might recognize his folly and seek help, but the one who is wise in his own eyes will remain ignorant of his folly.

Read Proverbs 26:1-12

A quarrelsome wife and a north wind.
v.21-22 Burning coals. If your enemy is hungry or thirsty feed him; by doing so you may lead him to repentance (or, heap burning coals on his head) and the Lord will reward you. Feed him may mean physical or spiritual nourishment. Quoted in NT at Rom 12:20. See also Lk 6:27.
v.23 North wind. A north wind (in Palestine) brings unexpected and damaging rain; in much the same way, a backbiting tongue brings forth anger and damage.
v.24 Quarrelsome wife. Repeating 21:9, we are here told that it is better to live (alone) in a corner part of the attic than in the (lovely) house with a quarrelsome wife. The wise man will reflect on why his wife is being quarrelsome.
v.25-26 Cold water/muddied spring. Two proverbs linked by reference to water. Good news from a far country is refreshing like cold water (and what better good news than the love of Christ). A righteous man who yields to evil (perhaps accepting a bribe) is like a muddied spring or cloudy fountain of water (i.e., the water is no longer good).
v.27 Honey. It is not good to overindulge on honey (or sweets) (recall v.16), likewise it is not good to seek your own glory.
v.28 Self-control. A man who does not have self-control over his passions (anger, etc.), appetites (food, etc.), and will (wise decisions, etc.) is like a city broken into and left unprotected. See 16:32.

Read Proverbs 25:21-28

An appropriate word.
v.11-12 A good word. An appropriate word, spoken at the right time, is like golden apples on a silver tray. A wise reprover, offering valid criticism, is to a listening ear like golden jewelry. That is, it is wise to listen to timely criticism and advice (15:31).
v.13 Trustworthy messengers. A trustworthy messenger is like a cold snow on a hot summer day, cooling and refreshing the one who sent him. Also 13:17.
v.14 Promises, promises. In an agrarian society where rain is rare, it is a great disappointment when storm clouds bring no rain. The proverb likens this to a man who promises a gift but doesn’t deliver. Jude 12 applies this image to false teachers.
v.15 Break a bone. With patience a ruler may be persuaded and a soft tongue will break a bone (i.e., stiff opposition can be broken down). See 15:1.
v.16-17 Moderation. Honey in moderation is good (v.27, 24:13-14) but too much can cause you to vomit, likewise don’t visit your neighbor too often or he will come to hate you. Familiarity breeds contempt. Too much of a good thing will have negative consequences.
v.18-20 Liar, treacherous, insensitive. A series of three proverbs about three types of men. (1) A man who tells lies about his neighbor is like a sharp arrow that does much damage. (2) Trusting a treacherous man in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth. (3) He who sings to a heavy heart is like vinegar on soda.

Read Proverbs 25:11-20

More Solomonic Proverbs (25:1-29:27).
v.1 Hezekiah. This collection of Solomon’s proverbs was put together (collected) by the (wise) men of King Hezekiah of Judah (715-686 B.C.). Hezekiah revived Judah’s religious traditions (2 Kgs 18:3-7) and this apparently included an expanded version of the book of Proverbs.
v.2-3 Glory of kings. It is the glory of God to conceal things (God’s ways are beyond our understanding, Rom 11:33) and the privilege of kings to search them out. The ideal king will use his wisdom to investigate and understand the world and his people. No one can understand the heights of heaven, the depths of earth, or everything on a king’s mind and heart.
v.4-5 Pure silver. Take away the impurities in silver (by refining in fire) and it is ready for the silversmith to make a bowl. Likewise, remove the wicked from the king’s court and his kingdom will be made secure in righteousness and justice. A little bit of impurity changes the properties of a metal, and a little bit of wickedness is detrimental to justice in the king’s court.
v.6-7b Humility. These verses express the same idea Jesus taught in Lk 14:7-11, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” It is better to have honor bestowed on you than wrongly assume it.
v.7c-10 Avoid court. Do not bring a case hastily into court against your neighbor, instead go to him and resolve it personally without revealing the secret (especially avoid gossip). Otherwise the neighbor will bring on you shame without end (perhaps defeating you in court or getting even). See Mt 18:15-20.

Read Proverbs 25:1-10

Further sayings of the wise (24:23-34).
These five sayings appear as an addendum to the thirty sayings of the wise (22:17–24:22).
v.23-25 (saying 1) Justice, no partiality. Courts and juries must render honest judgments (Ex 19:15). It is wrong to show any partiality when judging a case (e.g., because they are rich or the color of their skin, etc.). If you let the wicked go free you will be hated, but if you condemn the guilty you will be showered with blessings.
v.26 (saying 2) An honest answer. Giving an honest answer (16:24) treats one with respect and affection (this is not a sexual kiss, 1 Cor 16:20). It is wise to accept the correction given by a friend and if you are a friend you will give honest feedback.
v.27 (saying 3) Preparation. Prepare well (or plan carefully) before building your house. This can perhaps be understood as preparing now for life eternal by following wisdom (v.3) and believing in God’s son Jesus. (Ps 127:1)
v.28-29 (saying 4) No paying back. This proverbs condemns a false witness and any deception in speech. (25:18) Do not “pay back” a neighbor for some past wrong. See also Mt 5:43-48.
v.30-34 (saying 5) Learn from a sluggard. An observer happens upon the field of a sluggard. He finds it run down and overgrown and learns an important lesson. A little sleep or slumber, or folding the hands for rest and poverty will come upon you suddenly, like a robber (6:10-11). Hard work is the antidote to poverty.

Read Proverbs 24:23-34

Saying 26-30: Don’t envy the wicked.
v.13-14 (Saying 26) Sweet honey. Here we are told to eat honey because it is sweet to the taste (and nutritious/healing). In the same way wisdom is sweet to the soul, if you find it your future will be bright and your hope secure (see 23:18). Pursue wisdom because of its sweet rewards.
v.15-16 (Saying 27) Rise 7 times. Do not join the wicked man in doing an injustice against the righteous. The righteous will get up seven times after a fall, but the wicked stumble and do not get up in times of calamity. The seven times means that he will rise no matter how many times he falls. Augustine interprets “rises again” to mean he profits from the trials (accs). See Ps 145:14.
v.17-18 (Saying 28) Don’t gloat. Do not be glad and rejoice when an enemy (presumably the wicked) falls, lest the Lord turn away his anger. The Lord has no pleasure at the death of the wicked (Ez 33:11). Jesus teaches us to love our enemies (Mt 5:43-48). Vengeance is from the Lord, not man.
v.19-20 (Saying 29) Don’t envy. Do not worry about evil people, nor be envious (of their apparent prosperity), because they have no future (hope) (Ps 37:1-2) and their lamp will be put out (13:9) (i.e., sudden death).
v.21-22 (Saying 30) Fear the Lord. Fear (both) the Lord and the king (1 Pt 2:17) (the government) and do not consort (be friends with) with those who do not (political agitators); for disaster and ruin will overtake them suddenly (both the Lord and the king can be the agents of wrath).

This ends the thirty sayings of the wise (22:17-24:22).

Read Proverbs 24:13-22