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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Proverbs 25: GW
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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
1Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
4Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
7For better [that] he hath said to thee, ‘Come thou up hither,’ Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
20Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
24Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
28A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
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