Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be 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 will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into 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 shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] 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 Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
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 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
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 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
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 bones.
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 consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much 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 battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 [As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy 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 thy 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 though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto 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 bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
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 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
