Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
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 it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings 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 will come forth a vessel for the founder;
5 Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself 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 better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
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 engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
9 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive 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 refresheth the spirit of his masters.
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 the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
15 By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
17 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
18 A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
19 A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
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 taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a 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 thine 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 thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
24 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
As cold water to the thirsty, 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.
As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27 To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
