Proverbs 25
1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
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 [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, 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 to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
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 the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive 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 a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
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.
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report 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 spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling 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.
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
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.
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
