Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
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 better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
8 Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another,
Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive 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 the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
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 he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth 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;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23 The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
