Proverbs 25
1 THESE are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
7 For better it is 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 be said to thee, Come up hither, —than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.
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 go forth to strive in haste, —lest [thou know not] what to do in the latter end thereof, when thy neighbour, hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
As the cold of snow in the day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, —when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
