Proverbs 25
1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.
3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.
4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.
5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.
6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.
7 For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.
8 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.
Goe not foorth hastily to strife, least thou know not what to doe in the ende thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,
10 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.
Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.
11 To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.
12 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.
13 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.
As the colde of the snowe in the time of haruest, so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soule of his masters.
14 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.
15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.
16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.
19 To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,
Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.
20 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.
Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
If hee that hateth thee be hungry, giue him bread to eate, and if he be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.
22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.
26 A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.
27 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.
It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.
28 As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.
