Proverbs 25
1 THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 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.
for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
8 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.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
9 Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,
Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.
lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
11 A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 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.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.
In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 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.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 If hee that hateth thee be hungry, giue him bread to eate, and if he be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.
for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
23 As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
