Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
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 a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be 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 will come forth a vessel for the melter.
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 will be firmly established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into 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 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 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 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.
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 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work 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 a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive 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 them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
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 breaketh bones.
By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh 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.
Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, 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.
Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and 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 battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
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 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 thy 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 though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
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 a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
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 broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
