Proverbs 25
1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
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, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
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 better it be said to thee, Come up hither, —than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.
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.
Do not go forth to strive in haste, —lest [thou know not] what to do in the latter end thereof, when thy neighbour, hath put thee to shame.
9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
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 he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
11 To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
12 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing 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 the cold of snow in the day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, —when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.
14 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
19 To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,
A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
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 splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
26 A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
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.
To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
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.
A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
