Add parallel Print Page Options

More Wise Sayings of Solomon

25 These are more wise sayings of Solomon. They were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah.

God is honored for what he keeps secret.
    Kings are honored for what they can discover.

No one can measure the height of the skies or the depth of the earth.
    So also no one can understand the mind of a king.

Remove the scum from the silver.
    Then the silver can be used by the silversmith.
Remove wicked people from the king’s presence.
    Then his government will be honest and last a long time.

Don’t brag to the king.
    Don’t act as if you are a great man.
It is better for him to promote you to a higher job
    than to give you a less important position.

Because of something you have seen,
    do not quickly take someone to court.
What will you do later
    when your neighbor proves you are wrong?

If you have an argument with your neighbor,
    don’t tell other people what was said.
10 Whoever hears it might say bad things about you.
    And you might not ever be respected again.

11 The right word spoken at the right time
    is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl.

12 The warning of a wise person is valuable to someone who will listen.
    It is worth as much as gold earrings or fine gold jewelry.

13 A trustworthy messenger refreshes those who send him.
    He is like the coolness of snow in the summertime.

14 People who brag about gifts they never give
    are like clouds and wind that give no rain.

15 With patience you can convince a ruler.
    And a gentle word can get through to the hard-headed.

16 If you find honey, don’t eat too much.
    Too much of it will make you sick.
17 Don’t go to your neighbor’s house too often.
    Too much of you will make him hate you.

18 Anyone who lies about his neighbor
    hurts him as a club, a sword or a sharp arrow would.

19 Don’t trust unfaithful people when you are in trouble.
    It’s like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot.

20 Don’t sing songs to someone who is sad.
    It’s like taking off a coat on a cold day
    or pouring vinegar on soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
    If he is thirsty, give him a drink.
22 Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head.
    And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings rain.
    In the same way, telling gossip brings angry looks.

24 It is better to live in a corner on the roof[a]
    than inside the house with a quarreling wife.

25 Hearing good news from a faraway place
    is like having a cool drink when you are tired.

26 A good person who gives in to evil
    is like a muddy spring or a dirty well.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey.
    In the same way, it is not good to brag about yourself.

28 A person who does not control himself
    is like a city whose walls have been broken down.

Footnotes

  1. 25:24 roof In Bible times houses were built with flat roofs. The roof was used for drying things such as flax and fruit. And it was used as an extra room, as a place for worship and as a place to sleep in the summer.

箴言雜記

25 以下也是所羅門的箴言,是猶大希西家的人所謄錄的。

將事隱祕乃神的榮耀,將事察清乃君王的榮耀。 天之高,地之厚,君王之心也測不透。 除去銀子的渣滓就有銀子出來,銀匠能以做器皿; 除去王面前的惡人,國位就靠公義堅立。 不要在王面前妄自尊大,不要在大人的位上站立。 寧可有人說「請你上來」,強如在你覲見的王子面前叫你退下。 不要冒失出去與人爭競,免得至終被他羞辱,你就不知道怎樣行了。 你與鄰舍爭訟,要與他一人辯論,不可洩漏人的密事, 10 恐怕聽見的人罵你,你的臭名就難以脫離。 11 一句話說得合宜,就如金蘋果在銀網子裡。 12 智慧人的勸誡在順從的人耳中,好像金耳環和精金的裝飾。 13 忠信的使者叫差他的人心裡舒暢,就如在收割時有冰雪的涼氣。 14 空誇贈送禮物的,好像無雨的風雲。 15 恆常忍耐可以勸動君王,柔和的舌頭能折斷骨頭。 16 你得了蜜嗎?只可吃夠而已,恐怕你過飽就嘔吐出來。 17 你的腳要少進鄰舍的家,恐怕他厭煩你,恨惡你。 18 作假見證陷害鄰舍的,就是大槌,是利刀,是快箭。 19 患難時倚靠不忠誠的人,好像破壞的牙,錯骨縫的腳。 20 對傷心的人唱歌,就如冷天脫衣服,又如鹼上倒醋。 21 你的仇敵若餓了,就給他飯吃;若渴了,就給他水喝。 22 因為你這樣行,就是把炭火堆在他的頭上,耶和華也必賞賜你。 23 北風生雨,讒謗人的舌頭也生怒容。 24 寧可住在房頂的角上,不在寬闊的房屋與爭吵的婦人同住。 25 有好消息從遠方來,就如拿涼水給口渴的人喝。 26 義人在惡人面前退縮,好像趟渾之泉,弄濁之井。 27 吃蜜過多是不好的,考究自己的榮耀也是可厭的。 28 人不制伏自己的心,好像毀壞的城邑沒有牆垣。

25 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

For better it is 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.

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring 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 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

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.

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 that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These are more proverbs(A) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:(B)

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(C)
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(D)
    and his throne will be established(E) through righteousness.(F)

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(G)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
    do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?(H)

If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver(I)
    is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(J)

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.(K)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,(L)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(M)

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.(N)
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.(O)
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(P) on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.(Q)

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.(R)

25 Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.(S)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,(T)
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.(U)

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go
  2. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots