Proverbs 25
Christian Standard Bible
Hezekiah’s Collection
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter(C)
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
4 Remove impurities from silver,(D)
and material will be produced[a] for a silversmith.[b](E)
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,(F)
and his throne will be established in righteousness.(G)
6 Don’t boast 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.[c](H)
8 Don’t take a matter to court hastily.(I)
Otherwise, what will you do afterward
if your opponent[d] humiliates you?
9 Make your case with your opponent
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 gold apples in silver settings.(K)
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 envoy
is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day;
he refreshes the life of his masters.(M)
14 The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist
is like clouds and wind without rain.(N)
15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(O)
16 If you find honey,(P) eat only what you need;
otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.(Q)
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(R)
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.(S)
19 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time
is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.(T)
20 Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda.[f](U)
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,(V)
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.(W)
23 The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.(X)
Footnotes
- 25:4 Lit will come out; Ex 32:24
- 25:4 Or and a vessel will be produced by a silversmith
- 25:7 Lit you before a noble whom your eyes see
- 25:8 Or neighbor, also in v. 9
- 25:10 Lit and your evil report will not turn back
- 25:20 Lit natron, or sodium carbonate
- 25:25 Or a weary person
- 25:27 Lit seek their glory, glory
Proverbs 25
English Standard Version
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These also are (A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
2 It is the glory of God to (B)conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to (C)search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is (D)unsearchable.
4 Take away (E)the dross from the silver,
and (F)the smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away (G)the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his (H)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 (I)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 (J)do not hastily bring into court,[a]
for[b] what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 (K)Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another's secret,
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.
11 (L)A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like (M)a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to (N)a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is (O)a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (P)clouds and wind without rain
is a man who (Q)boasts of a gift he does not give.
15 With (R)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have (S)found honey, eat (T)only enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18 A man who (U)bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or (V)a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 Whoever (W)sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21 (X)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 (Y)burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 (Z)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to (AA)a thirsty soul,
so is (AB)good news from a far country.
26 Like (AC)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is (AD)not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to (AE)seek one's own glory.[c]
28 A man (AF)without self-control
is like (AG)a city broken into and left without walls.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8Do not go hastily out to court
- Proverbs 25:8 Hebrew or else
- Proverbs 25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
