Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
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 for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which 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.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing 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 day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, —when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.
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 Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad 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 he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the 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 on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
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 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; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
