Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 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.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
7 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,
For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 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?
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 Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
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 Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
13 Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
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 Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 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.
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 enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
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 Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
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.
