Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
These are more proverbs of Solomon, 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, but 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.
Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is 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 honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
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.
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 go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
do not bring quickly to trial. For 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 between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise 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 at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft 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 enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you and 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 bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
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 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 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 you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Like cold waters to one who is thirsty, so is good news from a far country.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
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; that is like searching for honor after honor.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
