Proverbs 25:1-14 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Proverbs 25

Hezekiah's Collection

 ¹ These too are proverbs of Solomon, ^(A)
    which the men of Hezekiah, ^(B) king of Judah, copied.

    ² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter ^(C)
    and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.

    ³ As the heaven is high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

    ⁴ Remove impurities from silver, ^(D)
    and a vessel will be produced ^[a] for a silversmith. ^(E)

    ⁵ Remove the wicked from the king's presence, ^(F)
    and his throne will be established in righteousness. ^(G)

    ⁶ Don't brag about yourself before the king,
    and don't stand in the place of the great;

    ⁷ for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!"
    than to demote you in plain view of a noble. ^{(H) [b]}

    ⁸ Don't take a matter to court hastily. ^(I)
    Otherwise, what will you do afterwards
    if your opponent ^[c] humiliates you?

    ⁹ Make your case with your opponent ^[d]
    without revealing another's secret; ^(J)

    ¹⁰ otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you,
    and you'll never live it down. ^[e]

    ¹¹ A word spoken at the right time
    is like golden apples on a silver tray. ^{(K) [f]}

    ¹² A wise correction to a receptive ear ^(L)
    is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

    ¹³ To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger
    is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day;
    he refreshes the life of his masters. ^(M)

    ¹⁴ The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist
    is like clouds and wind without rain. ^(N)