Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
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 conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the finer:
Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
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 that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
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.
The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself], and disclose not the secret of another:
Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
11 A word fitly spoken is [like] apples of gold in baskets of silver.
To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the 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 the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
14 [As] clouds and wind without rain, [so is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart 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.
To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary 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.
And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting 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 sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
26 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search out their own glory is [not] glory.
As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
