Proverbs 25
1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
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 thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 To speak a word in due 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 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
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 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, 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 To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, 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 one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth 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 thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and 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 As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain 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.
