Proverbs 25:20–28

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 on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

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.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

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,

nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through

is a person who lacks self-control.

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.

20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart

is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather

or pouring vinegar in a wound.

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.

If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.

22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,

so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic

than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

25 Good news from far away

is like cold water to the thirsty.

26 If the godly give in to the wicked,

it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

27 It’s not good to eat too much honey,

and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.

28 A person without self-control

is like a city with broken-down walls.

20 Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,

And like vinegar on soda,

Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;

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

22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,

And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,

And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25 As cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a far country.

26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked

Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

27 It is not good to eat much honey;

So to seek one’s own glory is not glory.

28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit

Is like a city broken down, without walls.

20 Singing songs to someone who is sad

is like taking away his coat on a cold day

or pouring vinegar on soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him a drink.

22 Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 As the north wind brings rain,

telling gossip brings angry looks.

24 It is better to live in a corner on the roof

than inside the house with a quarreling wife.

25 Good news from a faraway place

is like a cool drink when you are tired.

26 A good person who gives in to evil

is like a muddy spring or a dirty well.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,

nor does it bring you honor to brag about yourself.

28 Those who do not control themselves

are like a city whose walls are broken down.

20 As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda,

So is he that singeth songs to a 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 wilt heap coals of fire upon his head,

And Jehovah will reward thee.

23 The north wind bringeth forth rain:

So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,

Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul,

So is good news from a far country.

26 As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring,

So is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey:

So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.

28 He whose spirit is without restraint

Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

20 As he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad 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 Jehovah shall reward thee.

23 The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

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

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

26 A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is itself a weight.

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

20 ⸤Like⸥ taking off a coat on a cold day 

or pouring vinegar on baking soda, 

so is singing songs to one who has an evil heart. 

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat, 

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

22 ⸤In this way⸥ you will make him feel guilty and ashamed, 

and the Lord will reward you. 

23 ⸤As⸥ the north wind brings rain, 

so a whispering tongue brings angry looks. 

24 Better to live on a corner of a roof 

than to share a home with a quarreling woman. 

25 ⸤Like⸥ cold water to a thirsty soul, 

so is good news from far away. 

26 ⸤Like⸥ a muddied spring and a polluted well, 

⸤so⸥ is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person. 

27 Eating too much honey is not good, 

and searching for honor is not honorable. 

28 ⸤Like⸥ a city broken into ⸤and⸥ left without a wall, 

⸤so⸥ is a person who lacks self-control. 

20 Singing songs to a troubled heart

is like taking off clothing on a cold day

or like pouring vinegar on soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

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

22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 Better to live on the corner of a roof

than to share a house with a nagging wife.

25 Good news from a distant land

is like cold water to a parched throat.

26 A righteous person who yields to the wicked

is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey

or to seek glory after glory.

28 A man who does not control his temper

is like a city whose wall is broken down.

20 Like vinegar on a wound

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.

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat,

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

22 for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a contentious wife.

25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

are the righteous who give way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey

or to seek honor on top of honor.

28 Like a city breached, without walls,

is one who lacks self-control.

20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,

is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread,

and if thirsty, let him drink water.

22 For coals of fire you will heap upon his head,

and Yahweh will reward you.

23 The wind of the north produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.

24 Better to live upon the corner of a roof

than with a woman of contention and in a shared house.

25 Like cold water upon a weary soul,

so too is good news from a distant place.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.

27 To eat much honey is not good,

nor is seeking one’s honor honorable.

28 A breached city where there is no wall

is like a man who has no self-control for his spirit.

20 You may sing songs to a troubled heart.

But that’s like taking a coat away on a cold day.

It’s like pouring vinegar on baking soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.

If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on his head.

And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings rain.

And a crafty tongue brings angry looks.

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

than to share a house with a nagging wife.

25 Hearing good news from a land far away

is like drinking cold water when you are tired.

26 Sometimes a godly person gives in to those who are evil.

Then he becomes like a muddy spring of water or a polluted well.

27 It isn’t good for you to eat too much honey.

And you shouldn’t try to get others to honor you.

28 A man who can’t control himself

is like a city whose walls are broken down.

20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,

Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

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

22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,

And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,

And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

24 It is better to live in a corner of the roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a distant land.

26 Like a trampled spring and a polluted well

Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey,

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

28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls

Is a man who has no control over his spirit.