Proverbs 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

25These are more proverbs of Solomon. They were copied down by the men of Hezekiah, the king of Judah.

²When God hides a matter, he gets glory.

When kings figure out a matter, they get glory.

³The heavens are high and the earth is deep.

In the same way, the minds of kings are hard to figure out.

⁴Remove the scum from the silver.

Then the master worker can make something.

⁵Remove sinful people from where the king is.

When he does what is right, his kingdom will be secure.

⁶Don’t brag in front of the king.

Don’t claim a place among great people.

⁷Let the king say to you, “Come up here.”

That’s better than for him to shame you in front of nobles.

What you have seen with your own eyes

⁸don’t bring too quickly to court.

What will you do in the end

if your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹If you talk about a matter with your neighbor,

don’t tell others what was said.

¹⁰If you do, someone might hear it and put you to shame.

Then no one will ever respect you again.

¹¹The right word at the right time

is like golden apples in silver jewelry.

¹²A wise person’s warning to a listening ear

is like a gold earring or jewelry made of fine gold.

¹³A messenger trusted by those who send him

is like cool snow at harvest time.

He renews the spirit of his masters.

¹⁴A man who brags about gifts he doesn’t give

is like wind and clouds that don’t produce rain.

¹⁵If you are patient, you can win an official over to your side.

And gentle words can break a bone.

¹⁶If you find honey, eat just enough.

If you eat too much of it, you will throw up.

¹⁷Don’t go to your neighbor’s home very often.

If he sees too much of you, he will hate you.

¹⁸A man who gives false witness against his neighbor

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

¹⁹Trusting someone who is not faithful when trouble comes

is like a bad tooth or a disabled foot.

²⁰You 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.

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

If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

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

And the Lord will reward you.

²³The north wind brings rain.

And a crafty tongue brings angry looks.

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

than to share a house with a nagging wife.

²⁵Hearing good news from a land far away

is like drinking cold water when you are tired.

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

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

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

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

²⁸A man who can’t control himself

is like a city whose walls are broken down.