Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
2 It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
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 that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
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.
The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
9 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
11 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the 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 the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
By patience a prince 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 consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou 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.
Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
18 A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,
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.
And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
22 For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting 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 sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
27 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
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 that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
