Proverbs 25:11–18

A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is a faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Like clouds and wind without rain

is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

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

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

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

Like apples of gold in settings of silver

is a ruling rightly given.

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

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.

Like clouds and wind without rain

is one who boasts of gifts never given.

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

If you find honey, eat just enough—

too much of it, and you will vomit.

Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—

too much of you, and they will hate you.

Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

A word spoken at the right time

is like gold apples in silver settings.

A wise correction to a receptive ear

is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

To those who send him, a trustworthy envoy

is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day;

he refreshes the life of his masters.

The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist

is like clouds and wind without rain.

A ruler can be persuaded through patience,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

If you find honey, eat only what you need;

otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.

Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house;

otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.

A person giving false testimony against his neighbor

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

Timely advice is lovely,

like golden apples in a silver basket.

To one who listens, valid criticism

is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.

They revive the spirit of their employer.

A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it

is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

Patience can persuade a prince,

and soft speech can break bones.

Do you like honey?

Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!

Don’t visit your neighbors too often,

or you will wear out your welcome.

Telling lies about others

is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,

wounding them with a sword,

or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

Apples of gold in a setting of silver

is a matter spoken at its proper time.

A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold

is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.

Like the cold of snow on a day of harvest

is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

and the soul of his master is refreshed.

Like clouds and wind when there is no rain,

so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.

Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor,

lest he become weary of you and hate you.

Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow

is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

A word fitly spoken

Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,

So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

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.

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift

Is like clouds and wind without rain.

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,

And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee,

Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house;

Lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour

Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.