Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner;
5 Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men;
7 It is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have witnessed,
For better is it that it be said unto thee: 'Come up hither', than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
8 do not bring quickly to trial. For what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Argue your case between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
10 or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.
As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 Like the cold of snow at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift.
15 With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft tongue can break a bone.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you and hate you.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be sated with thee, and hate thee.
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
As a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, so is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
19 An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is 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 you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
23 As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
The north wind bringeth forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold waters to one who is thirsty, so is good news from a far country.
As cold waters to a faint soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.
It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search out their own glory is not glory.
28 A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
Like a city broken down and without a wall, so is he whose spirit is without restraint.
