Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out.
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 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,
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 do not bring quickly to trial. For what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
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 Argue your case between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise rebuke to a listening 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 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.
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 Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft tongue can break a bone.
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 If you find honey, eat just enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you 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 Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you 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 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 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.
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 is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to 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 you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
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 live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Like cold waters to one who is thirsty, so is good news from a far country.
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
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 too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
