Proverbs 25
Modern English Version
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,
but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heaven for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and there will come forth a vessel for the refiner.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
whom your eyes have seen.
8 Do not go forth hastily to strive;
lest you do not know what to do in the end,
when your neighbor has put you to shame.
9 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself,
and do not disclose a secret to another;
10 lest he who hears it put you to shame,
and your reputation be ruined.
11 A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
so is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Whoever boasts himself of a false gift
is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,
and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat only as much as is sufficient for you,
lest you be filled with it and vomit it.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house,
lest he be weary of you and so hate you.
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint.
20 As he who takes away a garment in cold weather,
and as vinegar on soda,
so is he 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 upon his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings rain,
and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked
is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring.
27 It is not good to eat much honey;
so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 He who has no rule over his own spirit
is like a city that is broken down and without walls.
Proverbs 25
American Standard Version
25 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing;
But the glory of 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 dross from the silver,
And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 [a]Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king,
And stand not in the place of great men:
7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither,
Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom thine eyes have seen.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive,
[b]Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself,
[c]And disclose not the secret of another;
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee,
And thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word [d]fitly spoken
Is like apples of gold in network of silver.
12 As [e]an ear-ring 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 As clouds and wind without rain,
So is he that boasteth himself [f]of his gifts falsely.
15 By long forbearing is a [g]ruler persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee,
Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house,
Lest he be [h]weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor
Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda,
So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 If [i]thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head,
And Jehovah will reward thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain;
So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a [j]thirsty soul,
So is good news from a far country.
26 As a [k]troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring,
So is a righteous man that [l]giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey;
[m]So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.
28 [n]He whose spirit is without restraint
Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:6 Hebrew Glorify not thyself.
- Proverbs 25:8 Or, Lest it be said in the end thereof, What wilt thou do? When etc.
- Proverbs 25:9 Or, But
- Proverbs 25:11 Or, in due season
- Proverbs 25:12 Or, a nose-ring
- Proverbs 25:14 Hebrew in a gift of falsehood.
- Proverbs 25:15 Or, judge
- Proverbs 25:17 Hebrew full of thee.
- Proverbs 25:21 Hebrew he that hateth thee.
- Proverbs 25:25 Or, weary
- Proverbs 25:26 Hebrew trampled.
- Proverbs 25:26 Or, is moved
- Proverbs 25:27 Or, But for men to search out their own glory is glory. The Hebrew text is obscure.
- Proverbs 25:28 Or, He that hath no rule over his spirit
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)