Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another,
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
