Proverbs 25
25
More Wise Sayings of Solomon
1These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah.
2God is honored for what he keeps secret.
Kings are honored for what they can discover.
3No one can measure the height of the skies or the depth of the earth.
So also no one can understand the mind of a king.
4Remove the scum from the silver,
so the silver can be used by the silversmith.
5Remove wicked people from the king’s presence;
then his government will be honest and last a long time.
6Don’t brag to the king
and act as if you are great.
7It is better for him to give you a higher position
than to bring you down in front of the prince.
Because of something you have seen,
8do not quickly take someone to court.
What will you do later
when your neighbor proves you wrong?
9If you have an argument with your neighbor,
don’t tell other people what was said.
10Whoever hears it might shame you,
and you might not ever be respected again.
11The right word spoken at the right time
is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl.
12A wise warning to someone who will listen
is as valuable as gold earrings or fine gold jewelry.
13Trustworthy messengers refresh those who send them,
like the coolness of snow in the summertime.
14People who brag about gifts they never give
are like clouds and wind that give no rain.
15With patience you can convince a ruler,
and a gentle word can get through to the hard-headed.
16If you find honey, don’t eat too much,
or it will make you throw up.
17Don’t go to your neighbor’s house too often;
too much of you will make him hate you.
18When you lie about your neighbors,
it hurts them as much as a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19Trusting unfaithful people when you are in trouble
is like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot.
20Singing songs to someone who is sad
is like taking away his coat on a cold day
or pouring vinegar on soda.
21If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him a drink.
22Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23As the north wind brings rain,
telling gossip brings angry looks.
24It is better to live in a corner on the roof
than inside the house with a quarreling wife.
25Good news from a faraway place
is like a cool drink when you are tired.
26A good person who gives in to evil
is like a muddy spring or a dirty well.
27It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor does it bring you honor to brag about yourself.
28Those who do not control themselves
are like a city whose walls are broken down.
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Proverbs 25: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 25
25
More Wise Sayings From Solomon
1These are some more wise sayings from Solomon. These proverbs were copied by servants of Hezekiah, the king of Judah.
2We honor God for the things he keeps secret. But we honor kings for the things they can discover.
3We cannot discover how high the sky is above us or how deep the earth is below. The same is true with the minds of kings. We cannot understand them.
4Remove the worthless things from silver to make it pure, and a worker can make something beautiful. 5Take the evil advisors away from a king, and goodness will make his kingdom strong.
6Don’t brag about yourself before the king and pretend you are someone important. 7It is much better for the king to invite you to take a more important position than to embarrass you in front of his officials.
8Don’t be too quick to tell a judge about something you saw. You will be embarrassed if someone else proves you wrong.
9If you want to tell your friends about your own problems, tell them. But don’t discuss what someone told you in private. 10Whoever hears it will lose their respect for you and will never trust you again.
11Saying the right thing at the right time is like a golden apple in a silver setting. 12Wise advice to a listening ear is like gold earrings or fine jewelry.
13To his master who sent him, a messenger who can be trusted is as refreshing as a drink of cold water on a hot summer day.#25:13 drink … day Literally, “as the cold snow at harvest time.” This probably refers to snow or ice brought down from Mt. Hermon in Lebanon.
14People who promise to give gifts but never give them are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15With patience, you can make anyone change their thinking, even a ruler. Gentle speech is very powerful.
16Honey is good, but don’t eat too much of it, or you will be sick. 17And don’t visit your neighbors’ homes too often, or they will begin to hate you.
18A person who gives false testimony against a neighbor is as deadly as a club, a sword, or a very sharp arrow. 19Never depend on a liar in times of trouble. It’s like chewing with a bad tooth or walking with a crippled foot.
20Singing happy songs to a sad person is as foolish as taking a coat off on a cold day or mixing soda and vinegar.
21If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. If they are thirsty, give them some water. 22This will make them feel the burning pain of shame,#25:22 This … shame Literally, “for you will heap coals of fire on his head.” and the Lord will reward you for being good to them.
23Just as wind blowing from the north brings rain, telling secrets brings anger.
24It is better to live in a small corner of the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing.
25Good news from a faraway place is like a cool drink of water when you are hot and thirsty.
26Good people who don’t stand strong against evil are like springs that have been polluted or pools that have turned dirty and muddy.
27Just as eating too much honey is not good, it is not good for people to always be looking for honor.
28People who cannot control themselves are like cities without walls to protect them.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International