Proverbs 25:2

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

Proverbs 25:1-28

More Proverbs of Solomon

1. These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled 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 a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5. remove wicked officials 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 his great men;
7. it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
   than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
   
   What you have seen with your eyes
8. do not bring hastily to court,
   for what will you do in the end
   if your neighbor puts you to shame?
   
9. If you take your neighbor to court,
   do not betray another’s confidence,
10. or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.
    
11. Like apples of gold in settings of silver
    is a ruling rightly given.
12. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
    
13. Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14. Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.
    
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 they will hate you.
    
18. Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19. Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20. Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    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. Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
    
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
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
    
27. It is not good to eat too much honey,
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
    
28. Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.
    

John 9:1-41

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.