Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
