מָשָׁל

And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’

Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.

…and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”

Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?

You will become an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule among all the nations to which the LORD will drive you.

Then a man who lived there replied, “And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.

Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.

…then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples.

…then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.

Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

Job continued his discourse:

And Job continued his discourse:

You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.

I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:

I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.

I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,

These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,

…by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

…you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!

I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them.

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?

Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’ But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.

I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel

“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?

As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.

In that day they will take up a proverb against you and taunt you with this bitter lamentation: ‘We are utterly ruined! He has changed the portion of my people. How He has removed it from me! He has allotted our fields to traitors.’”

Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’