Proverbs 25

1These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.

2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.

3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.

4Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:

5Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.

5Take away the wickedfrombefore the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:

6Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:

7For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.

7For 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.

8Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?

8Go not forth hastily to strive, Lestthou know notwhat to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

9Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:

9Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another;

10Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.

10Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.

11A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.

11A word fitly spoken Islikeapples of gold in network of silver.

12Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.

12Asan ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So isa wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.

13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So isa faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.

14As clouds and wind without rain, So ishe that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

15A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.

15By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.

16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.

17Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

18One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.

18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.

19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Islikea broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.

20As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

21If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:

21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.

22For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.

23As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.

23The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.

24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

25As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.

25Ascold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

26Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.

26Asa troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So isa righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

27It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.

27It is not good to eat much honey; Sofor mento search out their own glory is grievous.

28He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.

28He whose spirit is without restraint Islikea city that is broken down and without walls.