Proverbs 25
Tree of Life Version
The Glory of Searching a Matter
25 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter
and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 As high as heaven and deep as earth,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove impurities from silver
and out comes material for the refiner.
5 Remove the wicked from before the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not honor yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not stand in the place of great men.
7 Better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for you to be humiliated before a nobleman.
What your eyes have seen,
8 do not bring hastily to court,
or what will you do afterward,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Argue your case with your associate,
without betraying another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it will shame you,
and you will never lose your bad reputation.
A Fitting Reproof is Precious
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
is a word aptly spoken.
12 Like a gold earring or a gold ornament
is a wise reproof to a receptive ear.
13 Like the coolness of snow at harvest time
is a faithful messenger to those who send him
for he refreshes his master’s soul.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts about a gift not given.
15 Through patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break a bone.
Proverbs for Daily Life
16 When you find honey, eat just enough,
lest you are stuffed and vomit it.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
lest he become weary of you and loathe you.
18 Like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow
is one who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is confidence in the unfaithful in time of trouble.
20 Like taking off a garment on a cold day
or like vinegar poured on soda,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head[a]
and Adonai will reward you.
23 A north wind brings rain,
and a backbiting tongue angry faces.
24 Better to dwell in a corner of a roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
is a righteous person who yields before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
or honorable to seek one’s own honor.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken down
is one with no control over his temper.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:22 cf. Rom. 12:20.
Proverbs 25
Revised Standard Version
Further Wise Sayings of Solomon
25 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and 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 the prince.
What your eyes have seen
8 do not hastily bring into court;
for[a] what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not disclose another’s secret;
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute 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 reprover to a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
he refreshes the spirit of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest you be sated with it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 He who sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on a wound.[b]
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth 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 woman.
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
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
so be sparing of complimentary words.[c]
28 A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Cn: Heb lest
- Proverbs 25:20 Gk: Heb lye
- Proverbs 25:27 Cn Compare Gk Syr Tg: Heb searching out their glory is glory
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.