Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
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 it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
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.
The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
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.
Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
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.
and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Yhwh shall reward thee.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
