Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
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 thing.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is 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 there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great;
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 for better it is 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 see.
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 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
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 thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 lest he that heareth [it] disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 [As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive 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 them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [so] is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful [man] in the day of trouble.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 [As] he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad 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 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 something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.
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 bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 [As] cold waters 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 A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous [man] that giveth 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; and to search into weighty matters is [itself] a weight.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is [as] a city broken down, without walls.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
