Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
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.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
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,
8 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
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?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
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.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
