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.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among 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 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.
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence 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 one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
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 earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to 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 those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
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 who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is 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 you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
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 the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
Like cold water to a thirsty 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.
Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives 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, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
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 that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
