Proverbs 25

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

1 هَذِهِ أَيْضًا أَمْثَالُ سُلَيْمَانَ ٱلَّتِي نَقَلَهَا رِجَالُ حَزَقِيَّا مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا:

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

2 مَجْدُ ٱللهِ إِخْفَاءُ ٱلْأَمْرِ، وَمَجْدُ ٱلْمُلُوكِ فَحْصُ ٱلْأَمْرِ.

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

3 اَلسَّمَاءُ لِلْعُلُوِّ، وَٱلْأَرْضُ لِلْعُمْقِ، وَقُلُوبُ ٱلْمُلُوكِ لَا تُفْحَصُ.

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

4 أَزِلِ ٱلزَّغَلَ مِنَ ٱلْفِضَّةِ، فَيَخْرُجَ إِنَاءٌ لِلصَّائِغِ.

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

5 أَزِلِ ٱلشِّرِّيرَ مِنْ قُدَّامِ ٱلْمَلِكِ، فَيُثَبَّتَ كُرْسِيُّهُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ.

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

6 لَا تَتَفَاخَرْ أَمَامَ ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَلَا تَقِفْ فِي مَكَانِ ٱلْعُظَمَاءِ،

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 لِأَنَّهُ خَيْرٌ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَكَ: ٱرْتَفِعْ إِلَى هُنَا، مِنْ أَنْ تُحَطَّ فِي حَضْرَةِ ٱلرَّئِيسِ ٱلَّذِي رَأَتْهُ عَيْنَاكَ.

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

8 لَا تَبْرُزْ عَاجِلًا إِلَى ٱلْخِصَامِ، لِئَلَّا تَفْعَلَ شَيْئًا فِي ٱلْآخِرِ حِينَ يُخْزِيكَ قَرِيبُكَ.

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

9 أَقِمْ دَعْوَاكَ مَعَ قَرِيبِكَ، وَلَا تُبحْ بِسِرِّ غَيْرِكَ،

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

10 لِئَلَّا يُعَيِّرَكَ ٱلسَّامِعُ، فَلَا تَنْصَرِفَ فَضِيحَتُكَ.

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

11 تُفَّاحٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فِي مَصُوغٍ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ، كَلِمَةٌ مَقُولَةٌ فِي مَحَلِّهَا.

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

12 قُرْطٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَحُلِيٌّ مِنْ إِبْرِيزٍ، ٱلْمُوَبِّخُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ لِأُذُنٍ سَامِعَةٍ.

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 كَبَرْدِ ٱلثَّلْجِ فِي يَوْمِ ٱلْحَصَادِ، ٱلرَّسُولُ ٱلْأَمِينُ لِمُرْسِلِيهِ، لِأَنَّهُ يَرُدُّ نَفْسَ سَادَتِهِ.

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

14 سَحَابٌ وَرِيحٌ بِلَا مَطَرٍ، ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱلْمُفْتَخِرُ بِهَدِيَّةِ كَذِبٍ.

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

15 بِبُطْءِ ٱلْغَضَبِ يُقْنَعُ ٱلرَّئِيسُ، وَٱللِّسَانُ ٱللَّيِّنُ يَكْسِرُ ٱلْعَظْمَ.

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

16 أَوَجَدْتَ عَسَلًا؟ فَكُلْ كِفَايَتَكَ، لِئَلَّا تَتَّخِمَ فَتَتَقَيَّأَهُ.

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

17 اِجْعَلْ رِجْلَكَ عَزِيزَةً فِي بَيْتِ قَرِيبِكَ، لِئَلَّا يَمَلَّ مِنْكَ فَيُبْغِضَكَ.

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

18 مِقْمَعَةٌ وَسَيْفٌ وَسَهْمٌ حَادٌّ، ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱلْمُجِيبُ قَرِيبَهُ بِشَهَادَةِ زُورٍ.

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

19 سِنٌّ مَهْتُومَةٌ وَرِجْلٌ مُخَلَّعَةٌ، ٱلثِّقَةُ بِٱلْخَائِنِ فِي يَوْمِ ٱلضِّيقِ.

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 كَنَزْعِ ٱلثَّوْبِ فِي يَوْمِ ٱلْبَرْدِ، كَخَلٍّ عَلَى نَطْرُونٍ، مَنْ يُغَنِّي أَغَانِيَّ لِقَلْبٍ كَئِيبٍ.

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

21 إِنْ جَاعَ عَدُوُّكَ فَأَطْعِمْهُ خُبْزًا، وَإِنْ عَطِشَ فَٱسْقِهِ مَاءً،

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

22 فَإِنَّكَ تَجْمَعُ جَمْرًا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ، وَٱلرَّبُّ يُجَازِيكَ.

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

23 رِيحُ ٱلشِّمَالِ تَطْرُدُ ٱلْمَطَرَ، وَٱلْوَجْهُ ٱلْمُعْبِسُ يَطْرُدُ لِسَانًا ثَالِبًا.

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

24 اَلسُّكْنَى فِي زَاوِيَةِ ٱلسَّطْحِ، خَيْرٌ مِنِ ٱمْرَأَةٍ مُخَاصِمَةٍ فِي بَيْتٍ مُشْتَرِكٍ.

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

25 مِيَاهٌ بَارِدَةٌ لِنَفْسٍ عَطْشَانَةٍ، ٱلْخَبَرُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ مِنْ أَرْضٍ بَعِيدَةٍ.

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

26 عَيْنٌ مُكَدَّرَةٌ وَيَنْبُوعٌ فَاسِدٌ، ٱلصِّدِّيقُ ٱلْمُنْحَنِي أَمَامَ ٱلشِّرِّيرِ.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

27 أَكْلُ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ ٱلْعَسَلِ لَيْسَ بِحَسَنٍ، وَطَلَبُ ٱلنَّاسِ مَجْدَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ ثَقِيلٌ.

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

28 مَدِينَةٌ مُنْهَدِمَةٌ بِلَا سُورٍ، ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱلَّذِي لَيْسَ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى رُوحِهِ.