Proverbs 25
1 These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings [is] to search out a matter.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 The heaven for hight, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]:
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 For better [it is] that it be said to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.
for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself]; and reveal not a secret to another:
Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thy infamy turn not away.
lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
11 A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient 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 time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
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 Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.
Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre; so [is] he that singeth songs to a heavy 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 thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink:
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news 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 righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.
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 [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
