Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
11 A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
