Proverbs 25
25
1 THESE ARE also the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: [I Kings 4:32.]
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing. [Deut. 29:29; Rom. 11:33.]
3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth [the material for] a vessel for the silversmith [to work up]. [II Tim. 2:21.]
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).
6 Be not forward (self-assertive and boastfully ambitious) in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men;
7 For better it is that it should be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whose eyes have seen you. [Luke 14:8-10.]
8 Rush not forth soon to quarrel [before magistrates or elsewhere], lest you know not what to do in the end when your neighbor has put you to shame. [Prov. 17:14; Matt. 5:25.]
9 Argue your cause with your neighbor himself; discover not and disclose not another's secret, [Matt. 18:15.]
10 Lest he who hears you revile you and bring shame upon you and your ill repute have no end.
11 A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver. [Prov. 15:23; Isa. 50:4.]
12 Like an earring or nose ring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to an ear that listens and obeys.
13 Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the life of his masters.
14 Whoever falsely boasts of gifts [he does not give] is like clouds and wind without rain. [Jude 12.]
15 By long forbearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance. [Gen. 32:4; I Sam. 25:24; Prov. 15:1; 16:14.]
16 Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as is sufficient for you, lest, being filled with it, you vomit it.
17 Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor's house, lest he become tired of you and hate you.
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a heavy sledgehammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint.
20 He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like him who lays off a garment in cold weather and like vinegar upon soda. [Dan. 6:18; Rom. 12:15.]
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; [Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:20.]
22 For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain; so does a backbiting tongue bring forth an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a disagreeing, quarrelsome, and scolding woman. [Prov. 21:9.]
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far [home] country.
26 Like a muddied fountain and a polluted spring is a righteous man who yields, falls down, and compromises his integrity before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to seek glory, their own glory, causes suffering and is not glory.
28 He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. [Prov. 16:32.]
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 25: AMPC
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com