Understatement

So to say that we've had a month plus worth of sickness in this home is an understatement.

In September, my hubby was diagnosed with the flu. Since that time, he has been unable to shake all the symptoms that came after the flu (aka. the COUGH). So this past Monday, my hubby finally went back to the doctor to see what gives... turns out, he has bronchitis. Thankfully they've given him some antibiotics to fight it and some cough syrup to help him sleep and settle the cough down. He's on his way to recovery.

And now there is me... I felt like poo last weekend, but was thankfully on the up and up once the end of the weekend arrived and was ready to tackle the work week. Unfortunately, I couldn't shake the puny feeling and some sinus cold like symptoms and cough. So to be safe, I made my way to the doctor Friday morning, looking to find out what was up... figuring they'd diagnose me with bronchitis like my man, or a sinus infection.

A finger prick, flu swab (which was HORRIBLE, sticking this long thin swab up both my nostrils almost hitting the back of my cranium, the nurse actually made me sit on my hands warning me it was miserable but necessary), and chest xray later... I was diagnosed with pneumonia. NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. So here I am, sitting home with my man... laying low and taking the antibiotics to combat the mess in my lungs and resting as much as possible.

Pretty sad huh, a family of McGoo's, one with bronchitis and one with pneumonia at the same time. Yuck. Sad day. I think we'll have to take a lesson out of this one and remind ourselves to take care, sleep well, and not push ourselves until we're completely healthy. As my hubby exemplifies, if you don't take care of it the first time, sickness will linger for more than a month. Yuck, we're working on getting healthy, one day at a time.

(picture was taken before we were both sick a few weeks ago)

Kellyism - Back in Action

On Wednesday, my hubby came to the office and we shared lunch together. He was nice enough to stop by Tropical Smoothie and pick up some grub and a smoothie for me. Isn't he sweet? As we sat down together, I unfolded my wrap and grabbed the smoothie labeled: Kiwi Q.

Side note and background information: Kiwi Q. stands for my favorite smoothie of all, the Kiwi Quencher. Kelly and I often debate over who's smoothie is best, and my hubby has never liked the fact that I always seem to win this battle. Once I settled into the Kiwi Quencher selection, and realized its magnificent tastiness, I have never gone back. My hubby has struggled to find a smoothie to compare and has therefore made somewhat a stink about "mine is better" in many facets of our food lives.

Back to the story, I grabbed the Kiwi Q. smoothie and began to sip on my expected tastiness... a sip and a half into the smoothie, I shook my head and handed it back to my hubby saying, "they got my smoothie wrong, this isn't Kiwi Quencher, it has bannana in it."

To which, my ever childlike hubby responded, "DangIT! I didn't think you'd notice..."

So check this... my hubby ASKED the Tropical Smoothie girl to label the smoothies opposite. Can you imagine the look at that poor girl's face when he made this inquiry. "Are you sure?" Yes, he confirmed, label them wrong. So... in typical KELLYISM fashion, my hubby had her label MY kiwi quencher as Paradise Point, whereas the labeled Kiwi Q was really Paradise Point. Needless to say, I caught him and knew my favorite smoothie well enough to know the difference.

And thankfully, I was able to take the Paradise Point labeled smoothie and enjoy my Kiwi Quencher goodness. As payback, I made my man take this picture with the two wrongly labeled smoothies in hand, and that "I'm up to something" facial expression that I know all too well.

Proverbs 29 - 31

Proverbs 29-31 (New International Version)

Proverbs 29

 ¹ A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
       will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

 ² When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
       when the wicked rule, the people groan.

 ³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
       but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

 ⁴ By justice a king gives a country stability,
       but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.

 ⁵ Whoever flatters his neighbor
       is spreading a net for his feet.

 ⁶ An evil man is snared by his own sin,
       but a righteous one can sing and be glad.

 ⁷ The righteous care about justice for the poor,
       but the wicked have no such concern.

 ⁸ Mockers stir up a city,
       but wise men turn away anger.

 ⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
       the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

 ¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity
       and seek to kill the upright.

 ¹¹ A fool gives full vent to his anger,
       but a wise man keeps himself under control.

 ¹² If a ruler listens to lies,
       all his officials become wicked.

 ¹³ The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
       The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

 ¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with fairness,
       his throne will always be secure.

 ¹⁵ The rod of correction imparts wisdom,
       but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

 ¹⁶ When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
       but the righteous will see their downfall.

 ¹⁷ Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;
       he will bring delight to your soul.

 ¹⁸ Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
       but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 ¹⁹ A servant cannot be corrected by mere words;
       though he understands, he will not respond.

 ²⁰ Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
       There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 ²¹ If a man pampers his servant from youth,
       he will bring grief ^[a] in the end.

 ²² An angry man stirs up dissension,
       and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

 ²³ A man's pride brings him low,
       but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

 ²⁴ The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy;
       he is put under oath and dare not testify.

 ²⁵ Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
       but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

 ²⁶ Many seek an audience with a ruler,
       but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

 ²⁷ The righteous detest the dishonest;
       the wicked detest the upright.

Proverbs 30

Sayings of Agur

 ¹ The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle ^[b] :
       This man declared to Ithiel,
       to Ithiel and to Ucal: ^[c]

 ² "I am the most ignorant of men;
       I do not have a man's understanding.

 ³ I have not learned wisdom,
       nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

 ⁴ Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
       Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
       Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
       Who has established all the ends of the earth?
       What is his name, and the name of his son?
       Tell me if you know!

 ⁵ "Every word of God is flawless;
       he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

 ⁶ Do not add to his words,
       or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

 ⁷ "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
       do not refuse me before I die:

 ⁸ Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
       give me neither poverty nor riches,
       but give me only my daily bread.

 ⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
       and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
       Or I may become poor and steal,
       and so dishonor the name of my God.

 ¹⁰ "Do not slander a servant to his master,
       or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.

 ¹¹ "There are those who curse their fathers
       and do not bless their mothers;

 ¹² those who are pure in their own eyes
       and yet are not cleansed of their filth;

 ¹³ those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
       whose glances are so disdainful;

 ¹⁴ those whose teeth are swords
       and whose jaws are set with knives
       to devour the poor from the earth,
       the needy from among mankind.

 ¹⁵ "The leech has two daughters.
       'Give! Give!' they cry.
       "There are three things that are never satisfied,
       four that never say, 'Enough!':

 ¹⁶ the grave, ^[d] the barren womb,
       land, which is never satisfied with water,
       and fire, which never says, 'Enough!'

 ¹⁷ "The eye that mocks a father,
       that scorns obedience to a mother,
       will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
       will be eaten by the vultures.

 ¹⁸ "There are three things that are too amazing for me,
       four that I do not understand:

 ¹⁹ the way of an eagle in the sky,
       the way of a snake on a rock,
       the way of a ship on the high seas,
       and the way of a man with a maiden.

 ²⁰ "This is the way of an adulteress:
       She eats and wipes her mouth
       and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.'

 ²¹ "Under three things the earth trembles,
       under four it cannot bear up:

 ²² a servant who becomes king,
       a fool who is full of food,

 ²³ an unloved woman who is married,
       and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.

 ²⁴ "Four things on earth are small,
       yet they are extremely wise:

 ²⁵ Ants are creatures of little strength,
       yet they store up their food in the summer;

 ²⁶ coneys ^[e] are creatures of little power,
       yet they make their home in the crags;

 ²⁷ locusts have no king,
       yet they advance together in ranks;

 ²⁸ a lizard can be caught with the hand,
       yet it is found in kings' palaces.

 ²⁹ "There are three things that are stately in their stride,
       four that move with stately bearing:

 ³⁰ a lion, mighty among beasts,
       who retreats before nothing;

 ³¹ a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
       and a king with his army around him. ^[f]

 ³² "If you have played the fool and exalted yourself,
       or if you have planned evil,
       clap your hand over your mouth!

 ³³ For as churning the milk produces butter,
       and as twisting the nose produces blood,
       so stirring up anger produces strife."

Proverbs 31

Sayings of King Lemuel

 ¹ The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle ^[g] his mother taught him:

 ² "O my son, O son of my womb,
       O son of my vows, ^[h]

 ³ do not spend your strength on women,
       your vigor on those who ruin kings.

 ⁴ "It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
       not for kings to drink wine,
       not for rulers to crave beer,

 ⁵ lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
       and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

 ⁶ Give beer to those who are perishing,
       wine to those who are in anguish;

 ⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty
       and remember their misery no more.

 ⁸ "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
       for the rights of all who are destitute.

 ⁹ Speak up and judge fairly;
       defend the rights of the poor and needy."
       Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

 ^{10 [i]} A wife of noble character who can find?
       She is worth far more than rubies.

 ¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
       and lacks nothing of value.

 ¹² She brings him good, not harm,
       all the days of her life.

 ¹³ She selects wool and flax
       and works with eager hands.

 ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
       bringing her food from afar.

 ¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
       she provides food for her family
       and portions for her servant girls.

 ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
       out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

 ¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
       her arms are strong for her tasks.

 ¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
       and her lamp does not go out at night.

 ¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
       and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

 ²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
       and extends her hands to the needy.

 ²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
       for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

 ²² She makes coverings for her bed;
       she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

 ²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
       where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

 ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
       and supplies the merchants with sashes.

 ²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
       she can laugh at the days to come.

 ²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
       and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

 ²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
       and does not eat the bread of idleness.

 ²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
       her husband also, and he praises her:

 ²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
       but you surpass them all."

 ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
       but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

 ³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
       and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
2. Proverbs 30:1 Or Jakeh of Massa
3. Proverbs 30:1 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew declared, "I am weary, O God; / I am weary, O God, and faint.
4. Proverbs 30:16 Hebrew Sheol
5. Proverbs 30:26 That is, the hyrax or rock badger
6. Proverbs 30:31 Or king secure against revolt
7. Proverbs 31:1 Or of Lemuel king of Massa, which
8. Proverbs 31:2 Or / the answer to my prayers
9. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet

Proverbs 27-28

Proverbs 27-28 (New International Version)

 ¹ Do not boast about tomorrow,
       for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

 ² Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
       someone else, and not your own lips.

 ³ Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
       but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

 ⁴ Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
       but who can stand before jealousy?

 ⁵ Better is open rebuke
       than hidden love.

 ⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
       but an enemy multiplies kisses.

 ⁷ He who is full loathes honey,
       but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

 ⁸ Like a bird that strays from its nest
       is a man who strays from his home.

 ⁹ Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
       and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.

 ¹⁰ Do 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.

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

 ¹² The prudent see danger and take refuge,
       but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

 ¹³ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
       hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

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

 ¹⁵ A quarrelsome wife is like
       a constant dripping on a rainy day;

 ¹⁶ restraining her is like restraining the wind
       or grasping oil with the hand.

 ¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
       so one man sharpens another.

 ¹⁸ He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
       and he who looks after his master will be honored.

 ¹⁹ As water reflects a face,
       so a man's heart reflects the man.

 ²⁰ Death and Destruction ^[a] are never satisfied,
       and neither are the eyes of man.

 ²¹ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
       but man is tested by the praise he receives.

 ²² Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
       grinding him like grain with a pestle,
       you will not remove his folly from him.

 ²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
       give careful attention to your herds;

 ²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,
       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 you and your family
       and to nourish your servant girls.

Proverbs 28

 ¹ The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
       but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

 ² When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
       but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

 ³ A ruler ^[b] who oppresses the poor
       is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

 ⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
       but those who keep the law resist them.

 ⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
       but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

 ⁶ Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
       than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

 ⁷ He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
       but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

 ⁸ He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
       amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

 ⁹ If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
       even his prayers are detestable.

 ¹⁰ He who leads the upright along an evil path
       will fall into his own trap,
       but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

 ¹¹ A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
       but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

 ¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
       but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.

 ¹³ He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
       but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

 ¹⁴ Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD,
       but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

 ¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
       is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.

 ¹⁶ A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,
       but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.

 ¹⁷ A man tormented by the guilt of murder
       will be a fugitive till death;
       let no one support him.

 ¹⁸ He whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
       but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.

 ¹⁹ He who works his land will have abundant food,
       but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

 ²⁰ A faithful man will be richly blessed,
       but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

 ²¹ To show partiality is not good—
       yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

 ²² A stingy man is eager to get rich
       and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

 ²³ He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
       than he who has a flattering tongue.

 ²⁴ He who robs his father or mother
       and says, "It's not wrong"—
       he is partner to him who destroys.

 ²⁵ A greedy man stirs up dissension,
       but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

 ²⁶ He who trusts in himself is a fool,
       but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

 ²⁷ He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
       but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

 ²⁸ When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
       but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon
2. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor man

Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26 (New International Version)

 ¹ Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
       honor is not fitting for a fool.

 ² Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
       an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

 ³ A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,
       and a rod for the backs of fools!

 ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
       or you will be like him yourself.

 ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
       or he will be wise in his own eyes.

 ⁶ Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence
       is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

 ⁷ Like a lame man's legs that hang limp
       is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 ⁸ Like tying a stone in a sling
       is the giving of honor to a fool.

 ⁹ Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand
       is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 ¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds at random
       is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

 ¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit,
       so a fool repeats his folly.

 ¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
       There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 ¹³ The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road,
       a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

 ¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
       so a sluggard turns on his bed.

 ¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
       he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

 ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
       than seven men who answer discreetly.

 ¹⁷ Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
       is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

 ¹⁸ Like a madman shooting
       firebrands or deadly arrows

 ¹⁹ is a man who deceives his neighbor
       and says, "I was only joking!"

 ²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
       without gossip a quarrel dies down.

 ²¹ As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
       so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

 ²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
       they go down to a man's inmost parts.

 ²³ Like a coating of glaze ^[a] over earthenware
       are fervent lips with an evil heart.

 ²⁴ A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
       but in his heart he harbors deceit.

 ²⁵ Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,
       for seven abominations fill his heart.

 ²⁶ His malice may be concealed by deception,
       but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

 ²⁷ If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
       if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

 ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
       and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 26:23 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text of silver dross

David Crowder Band

After being fully spoiled for my birthday already, I was additionally blessed with another gift late by my youngest sista this past week. Not only did she bring me these three GORGEOUS orangish gerber daisies shown in the picture to the left, but she also gave me the newest David Crowder Band cd, Church Music!


I tell ya what... I'm LOVIN this CD. Seriously. I know little to jack about music, but I'm digging this cd, and musicianship.

I read some reviews online after I feel in love with the cd in just a couple run thrus, and one review I really liked, so I thought I'd share:

5.0 out of 5 stars It left me breathless, September 23, 2009

By	N. Pierce (Southern Illinois) -

The real question that was rattling in my head as I removed the shrinkwrap of DC*B's latest full length was, "Is it possible for them to outdo 'A Collision'?" (Remedy was pretty good, but it shone [in my humble opinion] pale next to their previous 21 track masterwork.) I plugged the disc into my stereo... synthesizers and loops all over the place. My head began to bob involuntarily. I am absolutely blown away by what I am hearing. Distinctly Crowder, but the envelope has been pushed so far out I forget everything I know. Infectious, melodic, intelligent, danceable, epic, awe-inspiring, worship. Church. Music. I fumble for words to describe what David Crowder*Band has accomplished, not only musically, but thematically, philosophically and spiritually. This record is a grand statement to anyone within earshot: Open your mind and reconsider what church music can/should be. Crowder and company embrace pop music like a long lost friend, but lyrically they have, if anything, become even more bold and passionate about their love for Jesus. They seem particularly fond of dance, synthpop and electronica this time around, but there are plenty of crunchy guitars, groovy bass lines and electric violins. Standout tracks for me (and there are MANY) are 'Alleluia, Sing', 'The Nearness', 'Eastern Hymn', 'The Veil', 'We Are Loved', the reworked Flyleaf cover 'All Around Me', the incredibly moving 'How He Loves', the disco title track... I really could go on and on. There's no filler here, which makes Church Music actually more substantial than 'A Collision.' And maintaining that type of consistency for 74 minutes is an accomplishment that very few in any genre can boast. This is a landmark record in the history of Christian music, and a full view of the shape of things to come. I don't know how they did it, but my apprehensions about topping 'A Collision' have been allayed. Simply stunning. {Note: I pre-ordered this from their website and received a guitar pick, two stickers, a poster, and a nifty 80 page magazine devoted entirely to DC*B and the new record. Needless to say, I am doubly pleased.}

Check the CD out, I totally think it's worth it!

Something New: Easy Potato Soup

After a food event at the office, I had to get the recipe from a coworker of her delicious potato  soup. She quickly shared the recipe and confessed that it was "easy", so I had to give it a whirl.

To celebrate my father in law's birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday, Larry!) , we invited family and a friend or two over for dinner and birthday cake. I made an attempt at the "Easy Potato Soup" and folks came back for seconds, so I think I did alright. I doubled the recipe to feed 6 adults and 1 kid, I had PLENTY of leftovers, so I probably should have gone with just one recipe, not the double.

Time to share the recipe. Easy Potato Soup:

1 bag of hash brown potatoes (I think they are called country style)

1 can of chicken broth

2 pkts of country gravy mix (I used one regular and one pepper flavor)

1 block of Velveeta cheese – cut in chunks

Cover the potatoes with water and boil til soft

Pour out about the equivalent of 1 can of water and add the can of chicken broth

Bring back to a boil and then empty the pkts of gravy mix one at a time and stir with wire whisk til dissolved

Turn down heat a bit and add velveeta 

Season to taste

Put some yummy bacon bits on top and serve. Enjoy.

Proverbs 23 - 25

Proverbs 23-25 (New International Version)

Proverbs 23

 ¹ When you sit to dine with a ruler,
       note well what ^[a] is before you,

 ² and put a knife to your throat
       if you are given to gluttony.

 ³ Do not crave his delicacies,
       for that food is deceptive.

 ⁴ Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
       have the wisdom to show restraint.

 ⁵ Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
       for they will surely sprout wings
       and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

 ⁶ Do not eat the food of a stingy man,
       do not crave his delicacies;

 ⁷ for he is the kind of man
       who is always thinking about the cost. ^[b]
       "Eat and drink," he says to you,
       but his heart is not with you.

 ⁸ You will vomit up the little you have eaten
       and will have wasted your compliments.

 ⁹ Do not speak to a fool,
       for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

 ¹⁰ Do not move an ancient boundary stone
       or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

 ¹¹ for their Defender is strong;
       he will take up their case against you.

 ¹² Apply your heart to instruction
       and your ears to words of knowledge.

 ¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child;
       if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

 ¹⁴ Punish him with the rod
       and save his soul from death. ^[c]

 ¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
       then my heart will be glad;

 ¹⁶ my inmost being will rejoice
       when your lips speak what is right.

 ¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,
       but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

 ¹⁸ There is surely a future hope for you,
       and your hope will not be cut off.

 ¹⁹ Listen, my son, and be wise,
       and keep your heart on the right path.

 ²⁰ Do not join those who drink too much wine
       or gorge themselves on meat,

 ²¹ for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
       and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

 ²² Listen to your father, who gave you life,
       and do not despise your mother when she is old.

 ²³ Buy the truth and do not sell it;
       get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

 ²⁴ The father of a righteous man has great joy;
       he who has a wise son delights in him.

 ²⁵ May your father and mother be glad;
       may she who gave you birth rejoice!

 ²⁶ My son, give me your heart
       and let your eyes keep to my ways,

 ²⁷ for a prostitute is a deep pit
       and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

 ²⁸ Like a bandit she lies in wait,
       and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

 ²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
       Who has strife? Who has complaints?
       Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

 ³⁰ Those who linger over wine,
       who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

 ³¹ Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
       when it sparkles in the cup,
       when it goes down smoothly!

 ³² In the end it bites like a snake
       and poisons like a viper.

 ³³ Your eyes will see strange sights
       and your mind imagine confusing things.

 ³⁴ You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
       lying on top of the rigging.

 ³⁵ "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt!
       They beat me, but I don't feel it!
       When will I wake up
       so I can find another drink?"

Proverbs 24

 ¹ Do not envy wicked men,
       do not desire their company;

 ² for their hearts plot violence,
       and their lips talk about making trouble.

 ³ By wisdom a house is built,
       and through understanding it is established;

 ⁴ through knowledge its rooms are filled
       with rare and beautiful treasures.

 ⁵ A wise man has great power,
       and a man of knowledge increases strength;

 ⁶ for waging war you need guidance,
       and for victory many advisers.

 ⁷ Wisdom is too high for a fool;
       in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

 ⁸ He who plots evil
       will be known as a schemer.

 ⁹ The schemes of folly are sin,
       and men detest a mocker.

 ¹⁰ If you falter in times of trouble,
       how small is your strength!

 ¹¹ Rescue those being led away to death;
       hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

 ¹² If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
       does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
       Does not he who guards your life know it?
       Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

 ¹³ Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
       honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

 ¹⁴ Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
       if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
       and your hope will not be cut off.

 ¹⁵ Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house,
       do not raid his dwelling place;

 ¹⁶ for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
       but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

 ¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
       when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

 ¹⁸ or the LORD will see and disapprove
       and turn his wrath away from him.

 ¹⁹ Do not fret because of evil men
       or be envious of the wicked,

 ²⁰ for the evil man has no future hope,
       and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

 ²¹ Fear the LORD and the king, my son,
       and do not join with the rebellious,

 ²² for those two will send sudden destruction upon them,
       and who knows what calamities they can bring?
       Further Sayings of the Wise

 ²³ These also are sayings of the wise:
       To show partiality in judging is not good:

 ²⁴ Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"—
       peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.

 ²⁵ But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
       and rich blessing will come upon them.

 ²⁶ An honest answer
       is like a kiss on the lips.

 ²⁷ Finish your outdoor work
       and get your fields ready;
       after that, build your house.

 ²⁸ Do not testify against your neighbor without cause,
       or use your lips to deceive.

 ²⁹ Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me;
       I'll pay that man back for what he did."

 ³⁰ I went past the field of the sluggard,
       past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;

 ³¹ thorns had come up everywhere,
       the ground was covered with weeds,
       and the stone wall was in ruins.

 ³² I applied my heart to what I observed
       and learned a lesson from what I saw:

 ³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,
       a little folding of the hands to rest-

 ³⁴ and poverty will come on you like a bandit
       and scarcity like an armed man. ^[d]

Proverbs 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

 ¹ These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

 ² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
       to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

 ³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
       so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

 ⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
       and out comes material for ^[e] the silversmith;

 ⁵ remove the wicked from the king's presence,
       and his throne will be established through righteousness.

 ⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,
       and do not claim a place among great men;

 ⁷ it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"
       than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
       What you have seen with your eyes

 ⁸ do not bring ^[f] hastily to court,
       for what will you do in the end
       if your neighbor puts you to shame?

 ⁹ If you argue your case with a neighbor,
       do not betray another man's confidence,

 ¹⁰ or he who hears it may shame you
       and you will never lose your bad reputation.

 ¹¹ A word aptly spoken
       is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

 ¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
       is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

 ¹³ Like the coolness of snow at harvest time
       is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;
       he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

 ¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
       is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

 ¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
       and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

 ¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
       too much of it, and you will vomit.

 ¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house—
       too much of you, and he will hate you.

 ¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
       is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

 ¹⁹ Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
       is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

 ²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
       or like vinegar poured on soda,
       is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

 ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
       if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

 ²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
       and the LORD will reward you.

 ²³ As a north wind brings rain,
       so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

 ²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
       than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

 ²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
       is good news from a distant land.

 ²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
       is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

 ²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
       nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

 ²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken down
       is a man who lacks self-control.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 23:1 Or who
2. Proverbs 23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is
3. Proverbs 23:14 Hebrew Sheol
4. Proverbs 24:34 Or like a vagrant / and scarcity like a beggar
5. Proverbs 25:4 Or comes a vessel from
6. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobleman / on whom you had set your eyes. / 8 Do not go

Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22 (New International Version)

 ¹ A good name is more desirable than great riches;
       to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

 ² Rich and poor have this in common:
       The LORD is the Maker of them all.

 ³ A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge,
       but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

 ⁴ Humility and the fear of the LORD
       bring wealth and honor and life.

 ⁵ In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares,
       but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

 ⁶ Train ^[a] a child in the way he should go,
       and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 ⁷ The rich rule over the poor,
       and the borrower is servant to the lender.

 ⁸ He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,
       and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

 ⁹ A generous man will himself be blessed,
       for he shares his food with the poor.

 ¹⁰ Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
       quarrels and insults are ended.

 ¹¹ He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious
       will have the king for his friend.

 ¹² The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
       but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

 ¹³ The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!"
       or, "I will be murdered in the streets!"

 ¹⁴ The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
       he who is under the LORD's wrath will fall into it.

 ¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
       but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

 ¹⁶ He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
       and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

 ¹⁷ Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise;
       apply your heart to what I teach,

 ¹⁸ for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
       and have all of them ready on your lips.

 ¹⁹ So that your trust may be in the LORD,
       I teach you today, even you.

 ²⁰ Have I not written thirty ^[b] sayings for you,
       sayings of counsel and knowledge,

 ²¹ teaching you true and reliable words,
       so that you can give sound answers
       to him who sent you?

 ²² Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
       and do not crush the needy in court,

 ²³ for the LORD will take up their case
       and will plunder those who plunder them.

 ²⁴ Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,
       do not associate with one easily angered,

 ²⁵ or you may learn his ways
       and get yourself ensnared.

 ²⁶ Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge
       or puts up security for debts;

 ²⁷ if you lack the means to pay,
       your very bed will be snatched from under you.

 ²⁸ Do not move an ancient boundary stone
       set up by your forefathers.

 ²⁹ Do you see a man skilled in his work?
       He will serve before kings;
       he will not serve before obscure men.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 22:6 Or Start
2. Proverbs 22:20 Or not formerly written ; or not written excellent