Do not go out (A)hastily to [a]argue your case;
[b]Otherwise, what will you do in [c]the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
[d](B)Argue your case with your neighbor,
And (C)do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or one who hears it will put you to shame,
And the evil report about you will not [e]pass away.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,
Is a (D)word spoken at [f]the proper time.
12 Like [g]an (E)earring of gold and a (F)jewelry piece of (G)fine gold,
Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a (H)listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the [h]time of harvest
Is a (I)faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (J)clouds and (K)wind without rain
Is a person who boasts [i]of his gifts falsely.
15 Through [j](L)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks bone.
16 Have you (M)found honey? Eat only [k]what you need,
So that you do not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become [l]weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club, a (N)sword, and a sharp (O)arrow
Is a person who gives (P)false testimony against his neighbor.
19 Like a bad tooth and [m]an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a (Q)treacherous person in time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on [n]soda,
Is one who sings songs to [o]a troubled heart.
21 (R)If [p]your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will [q]heap burning coals on his head,
And (S)the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings rain,
And a [r](T)gossiping tongue brings an angry face.
24 It is (U)better to live on a corner of the roof,
Than [s]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is (V)good news from a distant land.
26 Like a (W)trampled spring and a [t]polluted well,
So is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to (X)search out [u]one’s own glory.
28 Like a (Y)city that is broken into and without walls
So is a person (Z)who has no self-control over his spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Lit contend
  2. Proverbs 25:8 Lit Lest
  3. Proverbs 25:8 Lit its
  4. Proverbs 25:9 Lit Contend
  5. Proverbs 25:10 Lit return
  6. Proverbs 25:11 Lit its time
  7. Proverbs 25:12 Or a nose ring
  8. Proverbs 25:13 Lit day
  9. Proverbs 25:14 Lit in a gift of falsehood
  10. Proverbs 25:15 Lit length of anger
  11. Proverbs 25:16 Lit your sufficiency
  12. Proverbs 25:17 Lit surfeited with
  13. Proverbs 25:19 Lit a slipping foot
  14. Proverbs 25:20 I.e., natron
  15. Proverbs 25:20 Lit an evil
  16. Proverbs 25:21 Lit one who hates you
  17. Proverbs 25:22 Lit snatch up
  18. Proverbs 25:23 Lit tongue of secrecy
  19. Proverbs 25:24 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
  20. Proverbs 25:26 Lit ruined
  21. Proverbs 25:27 Lit their

58 For (A)when you are going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, on the way, make an effort to [a]settle with him, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:58 Lit be rid of him

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