Proverbs 25
1 These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established 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 glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
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 better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
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 cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
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.
[As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
