Proverbs 25
25
More Proverbs of Solomon
1These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.
2It is God’s privilege to conceal things
and the king’s privilege to discover them.
3No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,
or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
4Remove the impurities from silver,
and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
5Remove the wicked from the king’s court,
and his reign will be made secure by justice.
6Don’t demand an audience with the king
or push for a place among the great.
7It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table
than to be sent away in public disgrace.
Just because you’ve seen something,
8don’t be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
9When arguing with your neighbor,
don’t betray another person’s secret.
10Others may accuse you of gossip,
and you will never regain your good reputation.
11Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.
12To one who listens, valid criticism
is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.
They revive the spirit of their employer.
14A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it
is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones.
16Do you like honey?
Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
17Don’t visit your neighbors too often,
or you will wear out your welcome.
18Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
19Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
20Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
or pouring vinegar in a wound.#25:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads pouring vinegar on soda.
21If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.
23As surely as a north wind brings rain,
so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
24It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
25Good news from far away
is like cold water to the thirsty.
26If the godly give in to the wicked,
it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
27It’s not good to eat too much honey,
and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
28A person without self-control
is like a city with broken-down walls.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Proverbs 25
25
1These also are Solomon’s proverbs that were copied by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah.
Advice for Kings
2It is the glory of God to hide things
but the glory of kings to investigate them.
3 ⌞Like⌟ the high heavens and the deep earth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
4Take the impurities out of silver,
and a vessel is ready for the silversmith to mold.
5Take a wicked person away from the presence of a king,
and justice will make his throne secure.
6Do not brag about yourself in front of a king
or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people,
7because it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put down in front of a prince
whom your eyes have seen.
8Do not be in a hurry to go to court.
What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you?
9Present your argument to your neighbor,
but do not reveal another person’s secret.
10Otherwise, when he hears about it, he will humiliate you,
and his evil report about you will never disappear.
11 ⌞Like⌟ golden apples in silver settings,
⌞so⌟ is a word spoken at the right time.
12 ⌞Like⌟ a gold ring and a fine gold ornament,
⌞so⌟ is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens.
13Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day,
⌞so⌟ is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him:
He refreshes his masters.
14 ⌞Like⌟ a dense fog or a dust storm,
⌞so⌟ is a person who brags about a gift that he does not give.
15With patience you can persuade a ruler,
and a soft tongue can break bones.
16When you find honey, eat only as much as you need.
Otherwise, you will have too much and vomit.
17Do not set foot in your neighbor’s house too often.
Otherwise, he will see too much of you and hate you.
18 ⌞Like⌟ a club and a sword and a sharp arrow,
⌞so⌟ is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.
19 ⌞Like⌟ a broken tooth and a lame foot,
⌞so⌟ is confidence in an unfaithful person in a ⌞time of⌟ crisis.
20 ⌞Like⌟ taking off a coat on a cold day
or pouring vinegar on baking soda,
so is singing songs to one who has an evil heart.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink.
22 ⌞In this way⌟ you will make him feel guilty and ashamed,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 ⌞As⌟ the north wind brings rain,
so a whispering tongue brings angry looks.
24Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.
25 ⌞Like⌟ cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from far away.
26 ⌞Like⌟ a muddied spring and a polluted well,
⌞so⌟ is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person.
27Eating too much honey is not good,
and searching for honor is not honorable.
28 ⌞Like⌟ a city broken into ⌞and⌟ left without a wall,
⌞so⌟ is a person who lacks self-control.
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