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More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These also are (A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

It is the glory of God to (B)conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to (C)search things out.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the heart of kings is (D)unsearchable.
Take away (E)the dross from the silver,
    and (F)the smith has material for a vessel;
take away (G)the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his (H)throne will be established in righteousness.
Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
for (I)it is better to be told, “Come up here”,
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
    (J)do not hastily bring into court,
for[a] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbour puts you to shame?
(K)Argue your case with your neighbour himself,
    and do not reveal another's secret,
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute have no end.
11 (L)A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like (M)a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise reprover to (N)a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    is (O)a faithful messenger to those who send him;
    he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (P)clouds and wind without rain
    is a man who (Q)boasts of a gift he does not give.
15 With (R)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have (S)found honey, eat (T)only enough for you,
    lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour's house,
    lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18 A man who (U)bears false witness against his neighbour
    is like a war club, or (V)a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
    is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 Whoever (W)sings songs to a heavy heart
    is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
    and like vinegar on soda.
21 (X)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
    and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap (Y)burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 (Z)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to (AA)a thirsty soul,
    so is (AB)good news from a far country.
26 Like (AC)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is (AD)not good to eat much honey,
    nor is it glorious to (AE)seek one's own glory.[b]
28 A man (AF)without self-control
    is like (AG)a city broken into and left without walls.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Hebrew or else
  2. Proverbs 25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These are more proverbs(A) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:(B)

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(C)
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(D)
    and his throne will be established(E) through righteousness.(F)

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(G)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
    do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?(H)

If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver(I)
    is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(J)

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.(K)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,(L)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(M)

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.(N)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
    too much of you, and they will hate you.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.(O)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals(P) on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.(Q)

23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

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

25 Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.(S)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,(T)
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.(U)

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go
  2. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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 pictures of silver.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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