Proverbs 25
1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda 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 the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
7 for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
9 Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
10 lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds 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 a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the 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 sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
15 In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
17 Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he 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.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary 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.
And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.
21 If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
22 for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
For thou shalt heap hot coals 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 driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
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 sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings 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.
A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
