Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 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.
for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
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.
don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
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.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 [As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; So [for men] to search out their own glory is grievous.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
