Proverbs — Chapter 25

1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7For better it is 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.

8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:

5Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:

7For 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.

8Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

9Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;

10Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.

11A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.

12[As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [So is] a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14[As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

15By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor`s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20[As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.

23The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

25[As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

26[As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

27It is not good to eat much honey: So [for men] to search out their own glory is grievous.

28He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.

1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:

2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.

3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge;

5remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

7for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.

8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person,

10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away.

11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.

12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.

13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters.

14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.

15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.

16You have found honey—eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.

17Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.

20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day or like vinegar poured on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.

24It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land.

26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.

28Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper.

1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;

5Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;

7for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

8Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

9Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another;

10lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.

11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.

15By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

16Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

18A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.

20As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:

22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.

23The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

25Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

28Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.