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