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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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 25
25
More Proverbs of Solomon
1These also are #See ch. 1:1proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
2It is the glory of God to #[Deut. 29:29; Rom. 11:33] conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to #Job 29:16search things out.
3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is #[Ps. 145:3]unsearchable.
4Take away #[Ezek. 22:18; 2 Tim. 2:20, 21] the dross from the silver,
and #[Mal. 3:2, 3]the smith has material for a vessel;
5take away #[ch. 20:8] the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his #See ch. 16:12throne will be established in righteousness.
6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great,
7for #See Luke 14:8-11it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
8 #
Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58; [ch. 17:14] do not hastily bring into court,#25:8 Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8 Do not go hastily out to court
for#25:8 Hebrew or else what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 #
Matt. 18:15
Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another’s secret,
10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.
11 # ch. 15:23; [Isa. 50:4] A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12Like #[Gen. 24:22] a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to #ch. 15:31; 20:12a listening ear.
13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is #ch. 13:17a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14Like #Jude 12 clouds and wind without rain
is a man who #ch. 20:6boasts of a gift he does not give.
15With #ch. 15:1; 16:14; [Eccles. 10:4]patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16If you have #[Judg. 14:8; 1 Sam. 14:25] found honey, eat #[ver. 27]only enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18A man who #[ch. 24:28] bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or #ch. 12:18; See Ps. 57:4a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20Whoever #[Rom. 12:15]sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21 # Cited Rom. 12:20; [2 Kgs. 6:22; 2 Chr. 28:15]; See Ex. 23:4, 5 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22for you will heap #Ps. 140:10burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 # ch. 21:9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25Like cold water to #[Ps. 42:2] a thirsty soul,
so is #ch. 15:30good news from a far country.
26Like #[Ezek. 32:2; 34:18, 19]a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27It is #[ver. 16] not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to #[ch. 27:2]seek one’s own glory.#25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
28A man #[ch. 16:32] without self-control
is like #[2 Chr. 32:5; 36:19; Neh. 1:3]a city broken into and left without walls.
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