Proverbs 25

Similitudes and Instructions

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

²¶It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

³As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,

So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴Take away the impurities from the silver,[#25:4 Lit dross]

And there comes out a vessel for the smith;

⁵Take away the wicked before the king,

And his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶Do not boast in the presence of the king,

And do not stand in the same place as great people;

⁷For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”

Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,

Whom your eyes have seen.

⁸¶Do not go out hastily to argue your case;[#25:8 Lit contend]

Otherwise, what will you do in the end,

When your neighbor humiliates you?

⁹Argue your case with your neighbor,[#25:9 Lit Contend]

And do not reveal the secret of another,

¹⁰Or one who hears it will put you to shame,

And the evil report about you will not pass away.

¹¹¶Like apples of gold in settings of silver,

Is a word spoken at the proper time.

¹²Like an earring of gold and a jewelry piece of fine gold,[#25:12 Or a nose ring]

Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a listening ear.

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest[#25:13 Lit day]

Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain

Is a person who boasts of his gifts falsely.

¹⁵Through patience a ruler may be persuaded,[#25:15 Lit length of anger]

And a gentle tongue breaks bone.

¹⁶Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,[#25:16 Lit your sufficiency]

So that you do not have it in excess and vomit it.

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

Or he will become weary of you and hate you.

¹⁸Like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow

Is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

¹⁹Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot[#25:19 Lit a slipping foot]

Is confidence in a treacherous person in time of trouble.

²⁰Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,[#25:20 I.e., natron]

Is one who sings songs to a troubled heart.

²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;[#25:21 Lit one who hates you]

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

²²For you will heap burning coals on his head,[#25:22 Lit snatch up]

And the Lord will reward you.

²³The north wind brings rain,

And a gossiping tongue brings an angry face.

²⁴It is better to live on a corner of the roof,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

²⁵Like cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a distant land.

²⁶Like a trampled spring and a polluted well,[#25:26 Lit ruined]

So is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey,

Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.

²⁸Like a city that is broken into and without walls

So is a person who has no self-control over his spirit.