Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5 Take away the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
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 better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8 Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another;
Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
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 a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
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.
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,
If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22 for by doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23 The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
