Proverbs 25
1 These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
7 For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.
21 If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
