Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may 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 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 For better it be said to thee, Come up hither, —than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.
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 Do not go forth to strive in haste, —lest [thou know not] what to do in the latter 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 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing 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 day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, —when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.
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 Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 By long patience, is a judge 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 Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
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 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —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 hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad 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 he that hateth thee hunger, 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, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
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 water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
