Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 Elohim to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not 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 better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
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.
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not 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 pictures of silver.
12 As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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.
As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and YHWH shall reward thee.
23 As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
