Proverbs 25
1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes forth a vessel for the refiner.
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
7 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.
For it is better that it be said to thee, Come up here, than that thou should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
Go not forth hastily to strive. What will thou do in the end of it when thy neighbor has put thee to shame?
9 Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Debate thy case with thy neighbor himself, and disclose not the secret of another,
10 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.
lest he who hears it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
A word fitly spoken is apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
An earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
Clouds and wind without rain, is he who boasts himself of his gifts falsely.
15 In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
By long-suffering a ruler is persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
Have thou found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
17 Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 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.
As he who takes off a garment in cold weather, and vinegar upon soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
If thine enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
For thou will heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah will reward thee.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
The north wind brings forth rain. So does a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 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.
A troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
It is not good to eat much honey, so for men to search out their own glory is grievous.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
He whose spirit is without restraint is a city that is broken down and without walls.
