Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner;
5 Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men;
7 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.
For better is it that it be said unto thee: 'Come up hither', than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
8 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.
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing 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 day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, —when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift.
15 By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be sated with thee, and hate thee.
18 A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
As a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, so is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
19 A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
The north wind bringeth forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
As cold waters to a faint soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search out their own glory is not glory.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
Like a city broken down and without a wall, so is he whose spirit is without restraint.
