Proverbs 25:2–27

²It is the glory of God to ⁿconceal things,

but the glory of kings is to ^osearch things out.

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

so the heart of kings is ^punsearchable.

⁴Take away ^qthe dross from the silver,

and ^rthe smith has material for a vessel;

⁵take away ^sthe wicked from the presence of the king,

and his ^tthrone will be established in righteousness.

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

or stand in the place of the great,

⁷for ^uit is better to be told, “Come up here,”

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

What your eyes have seen

^8wdo not hastily bring into court,¹

for² what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

^9xArgue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another’s secret,

¹⁰lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

^11yA word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

¹²Like ^za gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise reprover to ^aa listening ear.

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is ^ba faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴Like ^cclouds and wind without rain

is a man who ^dboasts of a gift he does not give.

¹⁵With ^epatience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

¹⁶If you have ^ffound honey, eat ^gonly enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

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

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

¹⁸A man who ^hbears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or ⁱa sword, or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

²⁰Whoever ^jsings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

^21kIf your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

²²for you will heap ^lburning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

²³The north wind brings forth rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

^24mIt is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵Like cold water to ⁿa thirsty soul,

so is ^ogood news from a far country.

²⁶Like ^pa muddied spring or a polluted fountain

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

²⁷It is ^qnot good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to ^rseek one’s own glory.³