Proverbs 25
1 Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
Take away the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
7 For better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
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.
8 Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another;
10 Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
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.
14 Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
20 Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,
22 For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
for by doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
