Proverbs 25
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
Further Wise Sayings of Solomon
25 These are other proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
3 Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great;
7 for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’,
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
8 do not hastily bring into court;
for[a] what will you do in the end,
when your neighbour puts you to shame?
9 Argue your case with your neighbour directly,
and do not disclose another’s secret;
10 or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute will have no end.
11 A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
are faithful messengers to those who send them;
they refresh the spirit of their masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of a gift never given.
15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break bones.
16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
or else, having too much, you will vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour’s house,
otherwise the neighbour will become weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow
is one who bears false witness against a neighbour.
19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.
20 Like vinegar on a wound[b]
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,
sorrow gnaws at the human heart.[c]
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;
and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious wife.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
are the righteous who give way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
or to seek honour on top of honour.
28 Like a city breached, without walls,
is one who lacks self-control.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Cn: Heb or else
- Proverbs 25:20 Gk: Heb Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, like vinegar on lye
- Proverbs 25:20 Gk Syr Tg: Heb lacks Like a moth . . . human heart
Proverbs 25
EasyEnglish Bible
More of Solomon's proverbs
25 These are more of Solomon's proverbs.[a] Hezekiah's men wrote them down when Hezekiah was king of Judah.[b]
2 God hides things because he is great. But great kings can explain things.
3 You can never know all the thoughts of a king. They go high above the sky and deep below the earth.
4 If you remove dirt from silver, a worker can use it to make a beautiful thing. 5 In the same way, you should keep wicked people away from the king. Then he will rule in a right way.
6 When you stand in front of the king, do not be proud. Do not stand where the important people stand. 7 Then it will be good if the king says to you, ‘Come and sit up here, near me.’ That would be better than if he sends you away while his officers watch.
8 If you see something bad happen, do not quickly go and tell a judge. Your neighbour may show that you are wrong. Then you will be ashamed. You will not know what to do.
9 If you argue with your neighbour, do not tell his secrets to other people. 10 If you do that, everyone will know about it. Then you will be ashamed for your whole life.
11 A wise word that you speak at the right time is a beautiful thing. It is like a gold apple on a silver plate. 12 When a wise person warns you, that is also a beautiful thing. It is like a gold ear-ring or a gold necklace.
13 When a faithful servant takes a message for his master, his master will have peace in his mind. It will keep him cool, like snow in the middle of summer.
14 Some people promise things, but they never do anything. Those people are like clouds and wind that do not bring any rain.
15 If you are patient, you may make a ruler change his mind. If you speak a quiet word, you can remove a difficult problem.
16 When you find honey, never eat more than you need. If you eat too much, you will become very sick.
17 Do not visit your neighbour's house too often. He may see you too much and he will start to hate you.
18 Some people may tell lies about their neighbour in court. Those people are like dangerous weapons, like sharp swords or arrows.
19 If you are in trouble and you trust someone who is not honest, it will not help you. He will be as useless as a bad tooth or a broken leg.
20 If you sing to a very sad man to make him happy, it only gives him more pain. It is like you are taking away his coat on a cold day, or you are putting vinegar on his wound.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him some water to drink. 22 If you help him, he will become ashamed, and the Lord will bless you with good things.
23 When the wind blows from the north, it brings rain. In the same way, when somebody tells other people's secrets, it brings anger.
24 It is better to live on the roof of your house than to live with a wife who always argues.
25 If you receive good news from a far away country, it is like cool water when you are tired and thirsty.
26 If you put dirt in a well, its good water becomes bad. It is the same with a righteous person who agrees to do wicked things.
27 It is bad for you to eat too much honey. If you always want people to praise you, it is also bad for you.
28 Somebody who cannot control his anger is in danger. He is like a city that no longer has a strong wall round it.
箴言 25
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
所罗门的箴言（续）
25 以下也是所罗门的箴言，由犹大王希西迦的人抄录。
2 将事隐藏是上帝的荣耀，
把事查明是君王的光荣。
3 天之高，地之厚，
君王的心测不透。
4 除掉银子里的渣滓，
银匠就能铸造器皿。
5 清除君王身边的恶人，
王位必因公义而巩固。
6 不可在王面前妄自尊大，
不要占据大人物的位子。
7 与其在权贵面前受羞辱，
不如等人邀请你坐上座。
8 不可鲁莽地打官司，
以免败诉、羞愧难当。
9 遇到跟邻舍争讼，
不可泄露其秘密，
10 免得听见的人辱骂你，
你的恶名将永难洗刷。
11 一句话说得合宜，
就像金苹果放在银器里。
12 对受教者而言，
智者的责备犹如金耳环和金饰物。
13 忠信的使者叫主人心里舒畅，
就像夏收之时有冰雪的凉气。
14 夸口送礼物却食言的人，
就像没有雨水的风和云。
15 坚忍说服君王，
柔舌折断骨头。
16 找到蜂蜜要酌量而食，
免得吃多了呕吐。
17 不要频频去邻舍家，
免得惹人烦、遭人厌。
18 作伪证陷害邻舍的人，
无异于大锤、刀和利箭。
19 危难时投靠奸诈之人，
形同倚靠坏牙和跛脚。
20 对忧伤的人唱歌，
如同天寒脱衣、伤口撒盐。
21 你的仇敌若饿了，
就给他吃的；
若渴了，就给他水喝；
22 因为你这是把炭火堆在他头上，
耶和华必奖赏你。
23 北风带来雨水，
谗言激起愤怒。
24 宁愿住在屋顶的一角，
不跟争闹的妻子同屋。
25 有好消息从远方传来，
如凉水滋润干渴的人。
26 义人向恶人低头，
就像清泉被搅浑，
水井受污染。
27 蜂蜜吃得太多有害无益，
追求自己的荣耀也不光彩。
28 无法自制的人就像被攻破的无墙之城。
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