Proverbs 25

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes forth a vessel for the refiner.

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men.

Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7 For it is better that it be said to thee, Come up here, than that thou should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.

For better it is that it be said unto you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.

8 Go not forth hastily to strive. What will thou do in the end of it when thy neighbor has put thee to shame?

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbour has put you to shame.

9 Debate thy case with thy neighbor himself, and disclose not the secret of another,

Debate your cause with your neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 lest he who hears it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.

Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your ill repute turn not away.

11 A word fitly spoken is apples of gold in a network of silver.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 An earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 Clouds and wind without rain, is he who boasts himself of his gifts falsely.

Whoso boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long-suffering a ruler is persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

16 Have thou found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.

Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

Withdraw your foot from your neighbour's house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

A man that bears false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20 As he who takes off a garment in cold weather, and vinegar upon soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon alkali, so is he that sings songs to an heavy heart.

21 If thine enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou will heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah will reward thee.

For you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain. So does a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 A troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27 It is not good to eat much honey, so for men to search out their own glory is grievous.

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28 He whose spirit is without restraint is a city that is broken down and without walls.

He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.