Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
Take away 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.
Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among 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 it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
8 Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
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.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary 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 gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, 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.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame 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.
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so 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. 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 heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
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 dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
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 is good news from a far country.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before 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 much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
