Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
7 for it is better 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.
For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
8 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
[As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
