Proverbs 25
1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 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.
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 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.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 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.
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 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.
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
