Proverbs 25

1 THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.

These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.

2 The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.

It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.

3 The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.

Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.

4 Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.

Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.

5 Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.

Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.

6 Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.

Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.

7 For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.

For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.

8 Goe not foorth hastily to strife, least thou know not what to doe in the ende thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee 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 Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,

Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,

10 Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.

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 spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.

Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

12 He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.

Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.

13 As the colde of the snowe in the time of haruest, so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soule of his masters.

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 A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.

A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.

15 A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.

By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

16 If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.

You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.

17 Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.

18 A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.

A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.

Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,

20 Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy 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 hee that hateth thee be hungry, giue him bread to eate, and if he be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.

If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.

For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.

23 As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.

The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious 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 are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.

Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.

26 A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.

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 eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.

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 A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.

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.