Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
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 conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
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 above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
6 Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
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 that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
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?
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.
9 Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
10 otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
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.
11 Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
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 harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
14 Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
15 If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
17 Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
18 Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart 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.
To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary 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.
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.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
22 This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
23 In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
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 sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
25 Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
26 Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
27 It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
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.
28 Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
