Proverbs 25
Amplified Bible
Similitudes, Instructions
25 These are also the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:(A)
2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.(B)
3
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the hearts and minds of kings are [a]unsearchable.
4
Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].(C)
5
Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6
Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor 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 for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.(D)
8
Do not rush out to argue your case [before magistrates or judges];
Otherwise what will you do in the end [when your case is lost and]
When your neighbor (opponent) humiliates you?(E)
9
Argue your case with your neighbor himself [before you go to court];
And do not reveal another’s secret,(F)
10
Or he who hears it will shame you
And the rumor about you [and your action in court] will have no end.
11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken at the right time.(G)
12
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to an ear that listens and learns.
13
Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest,
So is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
For he refreshes the life of his masters.
14
Like clouds and wind without rain
Is a man who boasts falsely of gifts [he does not give].(H)
15
By patience and a calm spirit a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance].(I)
16
Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as you need,
Otherwise, being filled excessively, you vomit it.
17
Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become tired of you and hate you.
18
Like a club and a sword and a piercing arrow
Is a man who testifies falsely against his neighbor (acquaintance).
19
Like a broken tooth or an unsteady foot
Is confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
20
Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda,
Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.(J)
21
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;(K)
22
For in doing so, you will [b]heap coals of fire upon his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
23
The north wind brings forth rain;
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather]
Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.(L)
25
Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
So is good news from a distant land.
26
Like a muddied fountain and a polluted spring
Is a righteous man who yields and compromises his integrity before the wicked.
27
It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
28
Like a city that is broken down and without walls [leaving it unprotected]
Is a man who has no self-control over his spirit [and sets himself up for trouble].(M)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:3 The ancient rabbis explained this as a reference to the countless details of government that are a king’s responsibility.
- Proverbs 25:22 This expression may refer to an Egyptian custom in which a penitent man carried a pan of coals on his head as a sign of repentance. The message of these verses is the admonition to return good for evil in the hope that your enemy will be moved to repentance.
Proverbs 25
New International Reader's Version
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are more proverbs of Solomon. They were gathered together by the men of Hezekiah, the king of Judah.
2 When God hides a matter, he gets glory.
When kings figure out a matter, they get glory.
3 The heavens are high and the earth is deep.
In the same way, the minds of kings are impossible to figure out.
4 Remove the scum from the silver.
Then the master worker can make something out of it.
5 Remove ungodly officials from where the king is.
Then the king can make his throne secure because of the godliness around him.
6 Don’t brag in front of the king.
Don’t claim a place among his great men.
7 Let the king say to you, “Come up here.”
That’s better than for him to shame you in front of his nobles.
What you have seen with your own eyes
8 don’t bring too quickly to court.
What will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 If you take your neighbor to court,
don’t tell others any secrets you promised to keep.
10 If you do, someone might hear it and put you to shame.
And the charge against you will stand.
11 The right ruling at the right time
is like golden apples in silver jewelry.
12 A wise judge’s warning to a listening ear
is like a gold earring or jewelry made of fine gold.
13 A messenger trusted by the one who sends him
is like a drink cooled by snow at harvest time.
He renews the spirit of his master.
14 A person who brags about gifts never given
is like wind and clouds that don’t produce rain.
15 If you are patient, you can win an official over to your side.
And gentle words can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough.
If you eat too much of it, you will throw up.
17 Don’t go to your neighbor’s home very often.
If they see too much of you, they will hate you.
18 A person who is a false witness against a neighbor
is like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting someone who is not faithful when trouble comes
is like a broken tooth or a disabled foot.
20 You may sing songs to a troubled heart.
But that’s like taking a coat away on a cold day.
It’s like pouring vinegar on a wound.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 By doing these things, you will pile up burning coals on his head.
And the Lord will reward you.
23 Like a north wind that brings rain you didn’t expect
is a crafty tongue that brings looks of shock.
24 It is better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.
25 Hearing good news from a land far away
is like drinking cold water when you are tired.
26 Sometimes godly people give in to those who are evil.
Then they become like a muddy spring of water or a polluted well.
27 It isn’t good for you to eat too much honey.
And you shouldn’t try to search out matters too deep for you.
28 A person without self-control
is like a city whose walls are broken through.
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