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 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is 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 there cometh forth a vessel for the finer:
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall 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 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 For better is it 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.
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 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.
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 thy cause with thy neighbour [himself], and disclose not the secret of another:
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
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 baskets 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 upon 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 them that send him; for he refresheth 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 that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh 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 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith, 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 thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
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 that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an 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 thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water 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 thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
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 comer of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 [As] cold waters 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 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so is] a righteous man that giveth 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: so [for men] to search out their own glory is [not] glory.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
