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, copied by the men 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.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
It is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have witnessed,
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
do not bring quickly to trial. For what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;
Argue your case between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
11 A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.
Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
12 [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.
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 soul of his masters.
Like the cold of snow at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
14 [As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft tongue can break a bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
If you find honey, eat just enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you and hate you.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the one who sings songs to a heavy 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, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
for you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
Like cold waters to one who is thirsty, so is good news from a far country.
26 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
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 too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.
A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
