Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
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 proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
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 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
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 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
13 As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth 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 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 [As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy 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 thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy 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 is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
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 Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
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.
