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.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and 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 cometh 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.
Glorify not thyself 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 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 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, 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 friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal 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 that heareth 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 like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so 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, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift.
15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, 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 neighbour's house; lest he be sated with 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.
As a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, so is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
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 like 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 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 your enemy is hungry, feed him. 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 you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
The north wind bringeth forth rain, and 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 a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
As cold waters to a faint 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.
As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth 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 not glory.
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.
Like a city broken down and without a wall, so is he whose spirit is without restraint.
