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Proverbs 25:15-25
King James Version
Proverbs 25:15-25
King James Version
15 By long forbearing is a prince 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 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour 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 he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
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Proverbs 25:15-25
New International Version
Proverbs 25:15-25
New International Version
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.(C)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.(D)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
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.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals(E) on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.(F)
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(G)
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.(H)
Proverbs 25:15-25
English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:15-25
English Standard Version
15 With (A)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have (B)found honey, eat (C)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 (D)bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or (E)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 (F)sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21 (G)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 (H)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 (I)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 (J)a thirsty soul,
so is (K)good news from a far country.
Proverbs 25:15-25
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 25:15-25
Christian Standard Bible
15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(A)
16 If you find honey,(B) eat only what you need;
otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.(C)
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(D)
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.(E)
19 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time
is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.(F)
20 Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda.[a](G)
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,(H)
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.(I)
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.(J)
Proverbs 25:15-25
New American Standard Bible 1995
Proverbs 25:15-25
New American Standard Bible 1995
15 By [a](A)forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you (B)found honey? Eat only [b]what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become [c]weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club and a (C)sword and a sharp (D)arrow
Is a man who bears (E)false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like a bad tooth and [d]an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a (F)faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on [e]soda,
Is he who sings songs to [f]a troubled heart.
21 (G)If [g]your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will [h]heap burning coals on his head,
And (H)the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And a [i](I)backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24 It is (J)better to live in a corner of the roof
Than [j]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is (K)good news from a distant land.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:15 Lit length of anger
- Proverbs 25:16 Lit your sufficiency
- Proverbs 25:17 Lit surfeited with
- Proverbs 25:19 Lit a slipping foot
- Proverbs 25:20 I.e. natron
- Proverbs 25:20 Lit an evil
- Proverbs 25:21 Lit one who hates you
- Proverbs 25:22 Lit snatch up
- Proverbs 25:23 Lit tongue of secrecy
- Proverbs 25:24 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.