Proverbs 25
1 THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
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 a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out.
3 The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.
Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.
Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
5 Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.
Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
6 Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.
Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
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.
It is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have witnessed,
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 bring quickly to trial. For what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,
Argue your case between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
10 Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.
or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
11 A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.
Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
12 He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.
A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise rebuke to a listening 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.
Like the cold of snow at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
14 A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.
Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
15 A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.
With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft tongue can break a bone.
16 If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.
If you find honey, eat just enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.
17 Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you and hate you.
18 A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.
An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
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.
Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the one who sings songs to a heavy 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 your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.
for you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
23 As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.
As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
25 As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.
Like cold waters to one who is thirsty, so is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.
Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
27 It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.
It is not good to eat too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.
28 A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.
A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
