Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the finer:
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
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 for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
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.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself], and disclose not the secret of another:
Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
11 A word fitly spoken is [like] apples of gold in baskets of silver.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to 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 soul of his masters.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 [As] clouds and wind without rain, [so is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
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.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the 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 hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
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 dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
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 eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
