Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 For better it is that it be said to you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbor has put you to shame.
don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your infamy turn not away.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on an obedient ear.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 Whoever boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar on nitre, so is he that singes songs to an heavy heart.
Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
21 If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 For you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD shall reward you.
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
