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, collected.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6 Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
7 For better it is that it be said unto you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbour has put you to shame.
Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate your cause with your neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10 Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your ill repute turn not away.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
14 Whoso boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbour's house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.
Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
18 A man that bears false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth 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.
As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
20 As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon alkali, so is he that sings songs to an heavy heart.
As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward you.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23 The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
28 He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
