Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 For better [that] he has said to you, “Come up here,” Than [that] he humbles you before a noble, Whom your eyes have seen.
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on natron, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
