Proverbs 25:11-20

Christian Standard Bible

¹¹ A word spoken at the right time
is like gold apples in silver settings.^(A)
12 A wise correction to a receptive ear^(B)
is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

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

¹⁴ The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist
is like clouds and wind without rain.^(D)
15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^(E)
16 If you find honey,^(F) eat only what you need;
otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.^(G)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house;
otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.

¹⁸ A person giving false testimony against his neighbor^(H)
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.^(I)
19 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time
is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.^(J)

²⁰ Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda.^[a](K)