Proverbs 25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 A 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.

13 As 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.

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

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

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

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

19 Confidence 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.

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

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

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

24 It 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.

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

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

Proverbs 25

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15 Through patiencet a ruler can be persuaded,t
and a soft tonguet can break a bone.s

16 When you findt honey, eat only what is sufficient for you,
lest you become stuffedt with it and vomit it up.s

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 The north winds brings forth rain,
and a gossiping tonguet brings fortht an angry look.s

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

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

26 Like a muddiedt spring and a pollutedt well,
so is a righteous person who gives wayt before the wicked.

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

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