Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor 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.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be 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 will come forth a vessel for the melter.
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 will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into 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 it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] 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.
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
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 cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send 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.
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
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 consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
20 As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
[As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
If thy 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 though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
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 the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, 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.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
