Proverbs 25

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

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

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 honour of kings is to search out a matter.

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

3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

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

4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

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

5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

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

6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

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 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.

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

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

9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

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

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

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

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

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

12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

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 is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

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

14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

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

15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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.

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

17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

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 neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

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 is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

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 he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

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:

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

22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

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

23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

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 brawling woman and in a wide house.

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

25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

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

26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

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: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

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

28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.