Proverbs 25

1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.

These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.

[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings [is] to search out a matter.

3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

The heaven for hight, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.

4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.

Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]:

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 is] that it be said to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy 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.

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.

9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself]; and reveal not a secret to another:

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 [it] put thee to shame, and thy infamy turn not away.

11 To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.

[As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon 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 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.

14 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.

Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.

15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

By long forbearing is a prince 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.

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.

17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.

18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

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] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre; so [is] he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:

If thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink:

22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.

For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.

23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.

The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting 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 in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.

[As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news 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 righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.

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: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.

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.

He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.