Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25

Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

¹These are other proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.[#Prov 1.1]

²It is the glory of God to conceal things,[#Deut 29.29; Ezra 6.1]

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

³Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,

so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

⁴Take away the dross from the silver,[#2 Tim 2.21]

and the smith has material for a vessel;

⁵take away the wicked from the presence of the king,[#Prov 16.12; 20.8]

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence

or stand in the place of the great,

⁷for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”[#Lk 14.7–11]

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen

⁸do not hastily bring into court,[#Mt 5.25]

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹Argue your case with your neighbor directly,[#Prov 11.13; Mt 18.15]

and do not disclose another’s secret,

¹⁰or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute will have no end.

¹¹A word fitly spoken[#Prov 15.23]

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

¹²Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold[#Prov 15.31; 20.12]

is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest[#v 25 ; Prov 13.17]

are faithful messengers to those who send them;

they refresh the spirit of their masters.

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain[#Prov 20.6; Jude 12]

is one who boasts of a gift never given.

¹⁵With patience a ruler may be persuaded,[#Gen 32.4; 1 Sam 25.24; Prov 15.1; 16.14]

and a soft tongue can break bones.

¹⁶If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,[#v 27]

lest, having too much, you vomit it up.

¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

lest the neighbor become weary of you and hate you.

¹⁸Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow[#Ps 57.4; Prov 12.18]

is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.

¹⁹Like a bad tooth or a lame foot

is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.

²⁰Like vinegar on a wound[#25.20 Gk: Heb Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, like vinegar on lye]

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,

sorrow gnaws at the human heart.

²¹If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat,[#Ex 23.4, 5; Mt 5.44; Rom 12.20]

and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink,

²²for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,[#2 Sam 16.12]

and the Lord will reward you.

²³The north wind produces rain,[#Ps 101.5]

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

²⁴It is better to live in a corner of the housetop[#Prov 21.9]

than in a house shared with a contentious wife.

²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul,[#v 13 ; Prov 15.30]

so is good news from a far country.

²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain[#Ezek 32.2; 34.18, 19]

are the righteous who give way before the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey[#v 16 ; Prov 27.2]

or to seek honor on top of honor.

²⁸Like a city breached, without walls,[#Prov 16.32]

is one who lacks self-control.