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, copied 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 conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great 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.
It is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have witnessed,
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
do not bring quickly to trial. For what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Argue your case between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another'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.
or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.
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.
Like the cold of snow at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
15 In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft tongue can break a bone.
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— otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.
17 Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of 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.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
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 a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
for you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
Like cold waters to one who is thirsty, 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 fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
It is not good to eat too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
