Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
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 better it is that it be said to you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
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.
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbor has put you to shame.
9 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your infamy turn not away.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on an obedient ear.
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 harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
Whoever boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.
18 A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, 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.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar on nitre, so is he that singes songs to an heavy 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 be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
For you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD shall reward you.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
As cold waters to a thirsty 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.
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
