Proverbs 25
World English Bible
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 hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and material comes out for the refiner;
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
or claim a place among 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 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court.
What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor,
and don’t betray the confidence of another,
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame,
and your bad reputation never depart.
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 As clouds and wind without rain,
so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded.
A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey?
Eat as much as is sufficient for you,
lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
or vinegar on soda,
so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The north wind produces rain;
so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house 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 and a polluted well,
so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls
is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
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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