Proverbs 25
1 These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
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 conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men: ]
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
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 for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have 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.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself; ] and discover not a secret to another:
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient 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 a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
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 vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts 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 hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the 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 dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
