Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
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 it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
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.
Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
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.
and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the 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, feed him. 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 you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
