Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
| גַּם־אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי ׀ חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָֽה׃ |
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
| כְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וּכְבֹד מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָֽר׃ |
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
| שָׁמַיִם לָרוּם וָאָרֶץ לָעֹמֶק וְלֵב מְלָכִים אֵין חֵֽקֶר׃ |
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
| הָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף וַיֵּצֵא לַצֹּרֵף כֶּֽלִי׃ |
5 Take away the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
| הָגוֹ רָשָׁע לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וְיִכּוֹן בַּצֶּדֶק כִּסְאֽוֹ׃ |
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
| אַל־תִּתְהַדַּר לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וּבִמְקוֹם גְּדֹלִים אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹֽד׃ |
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.
| כִּי טוֹב אֲמׇר־לְךָ עֲֽלֵה ־ הֵנָּה מֵהַשְׁפִּילְךָ לִפְנֵי נָדִיב אֲשֶׁר רָאוּ עֵינֶֽיךָ׃ |
8 Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
| אַל־תֵּצֵא לָרִב מַהֵר פֶּן מַה־תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָהּ בְּהַכְלִים אֹתְךָ רֵעֶֽךָ׃ |
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another;
| רִיבְךָ רִיב אֶת־רֵעֶךָ וְסוֹד אַחֵר אַל־תְּגָֽל׃ |
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
| פֶּֽן־יְחַסֶּדְךָ שֹׁמֵעַ וְדִבָּתְךָ לֹא תָשֽׁוּב׃ |
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
| תַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל־אׇפְנָֽיו׃ |
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
| נֶזֶם זָהָב וַחֲלִי־כָתֶם מוֹכִיחַ חָכָם עַל־אֹזֶן שֹׁמָֽעַת׃ |
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.
| כְּצִנַּת־שֶׁלֶג ׀ בְּיוֹם קָצִיר צִיר נֶאֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָיו וְנֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנָיו יָשִֽׁיב׃ |
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
| נְשִׂיאִים וְרוּחַ וְגֶשֶׁם אָיִן אִישׁ מִתְהַלֵּל בְּמַתַּת־שָֽׁקֶר׃ |
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
| בְּאֹרֶךְ אַפַּיִם יְפֻתֶּה קָצִין וְלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה תִּשְׁבׇּר־גָּֽרֶם׃ |
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
| דְּבַשׁ מָצָאתָ אֱכֹל דַּיֶּךָּ פֶּן־תִּשְׂבָּעֶנּוּ וַהֲקֵאתֽוֹ׃ |
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
| הֹקַר רַגְלְךָ מִבֵּית רֵעֶךָ פֶּן־יִשְׂבָּעֲךָ וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ׃ |
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
| מֵפִיץ וְחֶרֶב וְחֵץ שָׁנוּן אִישׁ עֹנֶה בְרֵעֵהוּ עֵד שָֽׁקֶר׃ |
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
| שֵׁן רֹעָה וְרֶגֶל מוּעָדֶת מִבְטָח בּוֹגֵד בְּיוֹם צָרָֽה׃ |
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.
| מַעֲדֶה־בֶּגֶד ׀ בְּיוֹם קָרָה חֹמֶץ עַל־נָתֶר וְשָׁר בַּשִּׁרִים עַל לֶב־רָֽע׃ |
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,
| אִם־רָעֵב שֹׂנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵהוּ לָחֶם וְאִם־צָמֵא הַשְׁקֵהוּ מָֽיִם׃ |
22 for by doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
| כִּי גֶחָלִים אַתָּה חֹתֶה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ וַיהֹוָה יְשַׁלֶּם־לָֽךְ׃ |
23 The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
| רוּחַ צָפוֹן תְּחוֹלֵֽל גָּשֶׁם וּפָנִים נִזְעָמִים לְשׁוֹן סָֽתֶר׃ |
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
| טוֹב שֶׁבֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג מֵאֵשֶׁת (מדונים) [מִדְיָנִים] וּבֵית חָֽבֶר׃ |
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
| מַיִם קָרִים עַל־נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָֽק׃ |
26 Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
| מַעְיָן נִרְפָּשׂ וּמָקוֹר מׇשְׁחָת צַדִּיק מָט לִפְנֵֽי־רָשָֽׁע׃ |
27 It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
| אָכֹל דְּבַשׁ הַרְבּוֹת לֹא־טוֹב וְחֵקֶר כְּבֹדָם כָּבֽוֹד׃ |
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
| עִיר פְּרוּצָה אֵין חוֹמָה אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֵין מַעְצָר לְרוּחֽוֹ׃ |
