Proverbs 25

1 These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

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

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

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

3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

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

4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.

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

5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

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

6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

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

7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

7 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.

8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

8 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.

9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,

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

10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.

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 settings of silver.

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

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

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

13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.

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 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

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

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

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

16 If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.

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

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.

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

18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

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

19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

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

20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

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 your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

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

22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

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

23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.

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

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

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

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

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 too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

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