Proverbs 25
25
More of Solomon's Proverbs
1Here are more of Solomon's proverbs, copied by men at the court of King Hezekiah of Judah.
2We honour God for what he conceals; we honour kings for what they explain.
3You never know what a king is thinking; his thoughts are beyond us, like the heights of the sky or the depths of the ocean.
4Take the impurities out of silver and the artist can produce a thing of beauty. 5Keep evil advisers away from the king and his government will be known for its justice.
6 #
Lk 14.8–10
When you stand before the king, don't try to impress him and pretend to be important. 7It is better to be asked to take a higher position than to be told to give your place to someone more important.
8Don't be too quick to go to court about something you have seen. If another witness later proves you wrong, what will you do then?
9If you and your neighbour have a difference of opinion, settle it between yourselves and do not reveal any secrets. 10Otherwise everyone will learn that you can't keep a secret, and you will never live down the shame.
11An idea well expressed is like a design of gold, set in silver.
12A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable than gold rings or jewellery made of the finest gold.
13A reliable messenger is refreshing to the one who sends him, like cold water in the heat of harvest time.
14People who promise things that they never give are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15Patient persuasion can break down the strongest resistance and can even convince rulers.
16Never eat more honey than you need; too much may make you vomit. 17Don't visit your neighbours too often; they may get tired of you and come to hate you.
18A false accusation is as deadly as a sword, a club, or a sharp arrow.
19Depending on an unreliable person in a crisis is like trying to chew with a loose tooth or walk with a crippled foot.
20Singing to a person who is depressed is like taking off his clothes on a cold day or like rubbing salt in a wound.
21 #
Rom 12.20
If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink. 22You will make them burn with shame, and the LORD will reward you.
23Gossip brings anger just as surely as the north wind brings rain.
24Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.
25Finally, hearing good news from a distant land is like a drink of cold water when you are dry and thirsty.
26A good person who gives in to someone who is evil reminds you of a polluted spring or a poisoned well.
27Too much honey is bad for you, and so is trying to win too much praise.#25.27 Probable text and so… praise; Hebrew unclear.
28If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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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