Proverbs 25
1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart 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 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
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'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 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
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 Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
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.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
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.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad 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.
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 your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
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 raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
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.
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; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
