Proverbs 25
1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
8 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.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 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.
lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 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.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 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.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 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.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 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.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
