Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Take away the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 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.
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another;
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 for by doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
