Proverbs 25

Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

25These ^aalso are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

^2bIt is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

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

So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

^4cTake away the dross from silver,

And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.

⁵Take away the wicked from before the king,

And his throne will be established in ^drighteousness.

⁶Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,

And do not stand in the place of the great;

^7eFor it is better that he say to you,

“Come up here,”

Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,

Whom your eyes have seen.

^8fDo not go hastily to ¹court;

For what will you do in the end,

When your neighbor has put you to shame?

^9gDebate your case with your neighbor,

And do not disclose the secret to another;

¹⁰Lest he who hears it expose your shame,

And ²your reputation be ruined.

¹¹A word fitly ^hspoken is like apples of gold

In settings of silver.

¹²Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold

Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

¹³ⁱLike the cold of snow in time of harvest

Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

^14jWhoever falsely boasts of giving

Is like ^kclouds and wind without rain.

^15lBy long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,

And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

¹⁶Have you found honey?

Eat only as much as you need,

Lest you be filled with it and vomit.

¹⁷Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,

Lest he become weary of you and hate you.

^18mA man who bears false witness against his neighbor

Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble

Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

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

And like vinegar on soda,

Is one who ⁿsings songs to a heavy heart.

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

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

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

^pAnd the Lord will reward you.

²³The north wind brings forth rain,

And ^qa backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

^24rIt is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

²⁵As cold water to a weary soul,

So is ^sgood news from a far country.

²⁶A righteous man who falters before the wicked

Is like a murky spring and a ³polluted well.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey;

So ^tto seek one’s own glory is not glory.

^28uWhoever has no rule over his own spirit

Is like a city broken down, without walls.