Proverbs 25
1 These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 conceal a thing: but the glory 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.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is 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 cometh forth a vessel for the finer:
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 shall be established in righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in 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 is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself], and disclose not the secret of another:
10 lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
A word fitly spoken is [like] apples of gold in baskets of silver.
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 an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
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 harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
[As] clouds and wind without rain, [so is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
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 be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, 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.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and 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 in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
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 comer of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
[As] cold waters to a thirsty 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.
[As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so 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.
It is not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search out their own glory is [not] glory.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
