Proverbs 25

1These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias, king of Juda, copied out.

1Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --

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

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

2It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.

2The honour of God <FI>is<Fi> to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.

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

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

3The heaven above and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

3The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings--<FI> are<Fi> unsearchable.

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

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

4Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:

4Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,

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

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

5Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.

5Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.

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

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

6Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.

6Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.

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

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

7For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.

7For better <FI>that<Fi> he hath said to thee, `Come thou up hither,' Than <FI>that<Fi> he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

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.

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.

8The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.

8Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?

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

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?

9Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:

9Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,

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

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

10Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.

10Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.

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

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

11To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

11Apples of gold in imagery of silver, <FI>Is<Fi> the word spoken at its fit times.

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

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

12As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.

12A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, <FI>Is<Fi> the wise reprover to an attentive ear.

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

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.

13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.

13As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, <FI>So is<Fi> a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.

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.

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.

14As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises.

14Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, <FI>Is<Fi> a man boasting himself in a false gift.

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

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

15By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

15By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

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

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

16Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.

16Honey thou hast found--eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated <FI>with<Fi> it, and hast vomited it.

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

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.

17Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.

17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated <FI>with<Fi> thee, and have hated thee.

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

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.

18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

18A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, <FI>Is<Fi> the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.

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

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

19To trust in an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,

19A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, <FI>Is<Fi> the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.

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

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

20And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.

20Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, <FI>Is as<Fi> vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on 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.

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

21If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:

21If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.

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

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

22For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.

22For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.

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

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

23The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.

23A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue--indignant faces.

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

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

24It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop: than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.

24Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than <FI>with<Fi> a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

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

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

25As cold water to a thirsty soul, so are good tidings from a far country.

25<FI> As<Fi> cold waters for a weary soul, So <FI>is<Fi> a good report from a far country.

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

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

26A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot and a corrupted spring.

26A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, <FI>Is<Fi> the righteous falling before the wicked.

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

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

27As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty shall be overwhelmed by glory.

27The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour--honour.

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

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

28As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.

28A city broken down without walls, <FI>Is<Fi> a man without restraint over his spirit!

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

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