Proverbs 25:2-4
Proverbs 25:2-5 The Message (MSG)
God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things. Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep. Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice; Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.
Proverbs 25:2-4 King James Version (KJV)
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: But the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Proverbs 25:2-4 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith
Proverbs 25:2-4 New Century Version (NCV)
God is honored for what he keeps secret. Kings are honored for what they can discover. No one can measure the height of the skies or the depth of the earth. So also no one can understand the mind of a king. Remove the scum from the silver, so the silver can be used by the silversmith.
Proverbs 25:2-4 American Standard Version (ASV)
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner
Proverbs 25:2-4 New International Version (NIV)
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel
Proverbs 25:2-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
Proverbs 25:2-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
¶It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. [Deut 29:29; Rom 11:33] As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape]. [2 Tim 2:21]
Proverbs 25:2-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind! Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
Proverbs 25:2-4 The Passion Translation (TPT)
God conceals the revelation of his word in the hiding place of his glory. But the honor of kings is revealed by how they thoroughly search out the deeper meaning of all that God says. The heart of a king is full of understanding, like the heavens are high and the ocean is deep. If you burn away the impurities from silver, a sterling vessel will emerge from the fire.
Proverbs 25:2-4 English Standard Version 2025 (ESV)
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel