Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner;
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Glorify not thyself in the presence of 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 better is it that it be said unto thee: 'Come up hither', than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
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 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end 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 cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
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 As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift.
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, 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 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be sated with 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 As a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, so is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
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 unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
20 As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy 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 thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 As cold waters to a faint soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search out their own 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 Like a city broken down and without a wall, so is he whose spirit is without restraint.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
