26 He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.

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26 An honest answer
    is like a kiss of friendship.

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26 An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

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26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

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Don’t take a matter to court hastily.(A)
Otherwise, what will you do afterward
if your opponent[a] humiliates you?
Make your case with your opponent
without revealing another’s secret;(B)
10 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you,
and you’ll never live it down.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 25:8 Or neighbor, also in v. 9
  2. 25:10 Lit and your evil report will not turn back

    don’t be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

When arguing with your neighbor,
    don’t betray another person’s secret.
10 Others may accuse you of gossip,
    and you will never regain your good reputation.

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    do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?(A)

If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

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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)

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11 Timely advice is lovely,
    like golden apples in a silver basket.

12 To one who listens, valid criticism
    is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.
    They revive the spirit of their employer.

14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it
    is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

15 Patience can persuade a prince,
    and soft speech can break bones.

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11 Like apples[a] of gold in settings of silver(A)
    is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(B)

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.(C)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,(D)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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

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Footnotes

  1. 25:20 Lit natron, or sodium carbonate

20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
    is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
    or pouring vinegar in a wound.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 25:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads pouring vinegar on soda.

20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

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20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

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Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness(A)
or you’ll be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his foolishness(B)
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.(C)

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Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
    or you will become as foolish as they are.

Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
    or they will become wise in their own estimation.

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Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(A)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(B)

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Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

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17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

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17 Interfering in someone else’s argument
    is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

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17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

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17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

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18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,(A)
19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

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18 Just as damaging
    as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
    and then says, “I was only joking.”

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18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

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18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

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