Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
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 matter, but the glory of kings to search it out.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
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.
It is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have witnessed,
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.
do not bring quickly to trial. For what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Argue your case between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
11 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise rebuke to a listening 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.
Like the cold of snow at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft tongue can break a bone.
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.
If you find honey, eat just enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you 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.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you 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.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or 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.
An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
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.
Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the one who sings 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 your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is 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 you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
Like cold waters to one who is 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.
Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
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 too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.
28 Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
