Proverbs 25
25
1These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
8don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
13Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.#25:15. “Break down opposition”: literally “break bones,” in other words, have a powerful effect.
16If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.#25:20. “An open wound”: Septuagint reading. Hebrew has “soda.” Vinegar on soda would cause an effervescent reaction.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.#25:27. The second part of this verse is uncertain.
28Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Proverbs 25
25
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.
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 cometh forth a vessel for the finer:
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 neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour 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 baskets of silver.
12 As 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.
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 neighbour's house;
Lest he be weary of thee, and 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.
20 As one that taketh off 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 bringeth forth rain:
So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24It is better to dwell in the comer 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 not glory.
28He whose spirit is without restraint
Is like a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
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