Proverbs 25
1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes forth a vessel for the refiner.
5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
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 it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
For it is better that it be said to thee, Come up here, than that thou should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
8 The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
Go not forth hastily to strive. What will thou do in the end of it when thy neighbor has put thee to shame?
9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
Debate thy case with thy neighbor himself, and disclose not the secret of another,
10 lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
lest he who hears it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
A word fitly spoken is apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
An earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
Clouds and wind without rain, is he who boasts himself of his gifts falsely.
15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
By long-suffering a ruler is persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
Have thou found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.
As he who takes off a garment in cold weather, and vinegar upon soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
If thine enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
For thou will heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah will reward thee.
23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
The north wind brings forth rain. So does a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
A troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
It is not good to eat much honey, so for men to search out their own glory is grievous.
28 Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
He whose spirit is without restraint is a city that is broken down and without walls.
