Proverbs 25
1 THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into 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 better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] 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.
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
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 pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
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 cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.
Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
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] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy 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 bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.
For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
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 in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
