Proverbs 25
Legacy Standard Bible
Analogies of Wisdom
25 These also are (A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2 It is the glory of God to (B)conceal a matter,
But the glory of (C)kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the (D)dross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the (E)smith;
5 Take away the (F)wicked before the king,
And his (G)throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not promote your majesty in the presence of the king,
And in the place of great men do not stand;
7 For (H)it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of a noble,
Whom your eyes have seen.
8 Do not go out (I)hastily to plead your case;
Lest, what will you do in [a]the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
9 (J)Plead your case with your neighbor,
And (K)do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Lest he who hears it bring disgrace upon you,
And the bad report about you will not turn away.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a (L)word spoken in [b]right circumstances.
12 Like [c]an (M)earring of gold and an (N)ornament of (O)fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a (P)listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the [d]time of harvest
Is a (Q)faithful envoy to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (R)clouds and (S)wind without rain
Is a man who boasts [e]of his gifts falsely.
15 (T)When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you (U)found honey? Eat only enough for you,
Lest you have more than your fill and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he have more than his fill of you and hate you.
18 Like a club and a (V)sword and a sharp (W)arrow
Is a man who bears [f](X)false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like [g]an aching tooth and a slipping foot
Is trust in a (Y)treacherous man in a day of distress.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on [h]soda,
Is he who sings songs to [i]an aching heart.
21 (Z)If [j]your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will [k]heap burning coals on his head,
And (AA)Yahweh will repay you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And a (AB)tongue of secrets, an indignant face.
24 It is (AC)better to live in a corner of the roof
Than [l]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is a (AD)good report from a distant land.
26 Like a (AE)muddied spring and a corrupted well
Is a righteous man shaking before the wicked.
27 To eat too much honey is not good,
Nor is it glory to (AF)search out [m]one’s own glory.
28 Like a (AG)city that is broken into and without a wall
Is a man (AH)without restraint over his spirit.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Lit its
- Proverbs 25:11 Lit its
- Proverbs 25:12 Or a nose ring
- Proverbs 25:13 Lit day
- Proverbs 25:14 Lit in a gift of falsehood
- Proverbs 25:18 Or lying witness, cf. Ex 20:16
- Proverbs 25:19 Lit a bad
- Proverbs 25:20 Or natron
- Proverbs 25:20 Lit an evil
- Proverbs 25:21 Lit one who hates you
- Proverbs 25:22 Lit snatch up
- Proverbs 25:24 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
- Proverbs 25:27 Lit their
Proverbs 25
Lexham English Bible
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:
2 The glory of God[a] conceals things,
but the glory of kings searches out things.
3 As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth,
so is the heart[b] of kings—there is no searching.
4 Remove the dross from silver,
and it will become a vessel for the smith.
5 Remove the wicked before a king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.[c]
6 Do not promote yourself before the king,
and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
7 For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,”
than he humble you before a noble.
What your eyes have seen,
8 do not hastily bring out to court,
for[d] what will you do at its end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Argue your argument with your neighbor himself,
the secret of another do not disclose,
10 lest he who hears shame you
and your ill repute will not end.
11 Apples of gold in a setting of silver
is a matter spoken at[e] its proper time.
12 A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.
13 Like the cold of snow on a day[f] of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
and the soul[g] of his master is refreshed.[h]
14 Like clouds and wind when there is no rain,
so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.
15 With patience[i] a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.[j]
16 If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.
17 Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor,
lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow
is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 A bad tooth and a lame foot
is the trust of a faithless person in a time[k] of trouble.
20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,[l]
is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread,
and if thirsty, let him drink water.
22 For coals of fire you will heap upon his head,
and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The wind of the north produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.
24 Better to live upon the corner of a roof
than with a woman[m] of contention and in a shared house.
25 Like cold water[n] upon a weary soul,[o]
so too is good news from a distant place.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.
27 To eat much honey is not good,
nor is seeking one’s honor[p] honorable.
28 A breached city where there is no wall
is like a man who has no[q] self-control for his spirit.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:2 Or “gods”
- Proverbs 25:3 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 25:5 Hebrew “in the righteousness”
- Proverbs 25:8 Or “lest”
- Proverbs 25:11 Hebrew “on”
- Proverbs 25:13 Or “at a season”
- Proverbs 25:13 Or “life,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 25:13 Or “returned”
- Proverbs 25:15 Literally “With length of face”
- Proverbs 25:15 Or “strength”
- Proverbs 25:19 Literally “on a day”
- Proverbs 25:20 A mineral salt found on dry lake beds often used as a preservative.
- Proverbs 25:24 Or “wife”
- Proverbs 25:25 Hebrew “waters”
- Proverbs 25:25 Or “life,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 25:27 Hebrew “their honor”
- Proverbs 25:28 Literally “there is no”
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