Proverbs 25
1 These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
