Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
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 be said to thee, Come up hither, —than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.
8 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
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.
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
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 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.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
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 splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
If he that hateth thee hunger, 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, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
23 The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
