Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings 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 the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings 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 founder;
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself 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 better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary 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 Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
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 depart not from thee.
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 season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
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 harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit 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 As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
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 appeased; 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 what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with 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 battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth 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 As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
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 a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy 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 thine 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 thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large 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 the thirsty, 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 As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling 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 much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
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 As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule 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.
