Proverbs 25
1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner;
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men;
7 for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
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 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
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 Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
10 lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift.
15 In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, 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 Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be sated with thee, and hate thee.
18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
As a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, so is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 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.
As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
The north wind bringeth forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
As cold waters to a faint soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 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.
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 much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search out their own glory is not glory.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
Like a city broken down and without a wall, so is he whose spirit is without restraint.
