Proverbs 25
25
More Proverbs of Solomon
1These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:
2The glory of God#Or “gods” conceals things,
but the glory of kings searches out things.
3As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth,
so is the heart#Or “mind” of kings—there is no searching.
4Remove the dross from silver,
and it will become a vessel for the smith.
5Remove the wicked before a king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.#Hebrew “in the righteousness”
6Do not promote yourself before the king,
and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
7For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,”
than he humble you before a noble.
What your eyes have seen,
8do not hastily bring out to court,
for#Or “lest” what will you do at its end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9Argue your argument with your neighbor himself,
the secret of another do not disclose,
10lest he who hears shame you
and your ill repute will not end.
11Apples of gold in a setting of silver
is a matter spoken at#Hebrew “on” its proper time.
12A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.
13Like the cold of snow on a day#Or “at a season” of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
and the soul#Or “life,” or “inner self” of his master is refreshed.#Or “returned”
14Like clouds and wind when there is no rain,
so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.
15With patience#Literally “With length of face” a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.#Or “strength”
16If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.
17Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor,
lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow
is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19A bad tooth and a lame foot
is the trust of a faithless person in a time#Literally “on a day” of trouble.
20Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,#A mineral salt found on dry lake beds often used as a preservative.
is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread,
and if thirsty, let him drink water.
22For coals of fire you will heap upon his head,
and Yahweh will reward you.
23The wind of the north produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.
24Better to live upon the corner of a roof
than with a woman#Or “wife” of contention and in a shared house.
25Like cold water#Hebrew “waters” upon a weary soul,#Or “life,” or “inner self”
so too is good news from a distant place.
26Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.
27To eat much honey is not good,
nor is seeking one’s honor#Hebrew “their honor” honorable.
28A breached city where there is no wall
is like a man who has no#Literally “there is no” self-control for his spirit.
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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.]
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