Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand 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 that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
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.
The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
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.
Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart 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.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the 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 enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
