Proverbs 25:2–7

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

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

so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Take away the dross from the silver,

and the smith has material for a vessel;

take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence

or stand in the place of the great,

for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

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

What your eyes have seen

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;

to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,

and a silversmith can produce a vessel;

remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established through righteousness.

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,

and do not claim a place among his great men;

it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”

than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter

and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.

As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

Remove impurities from silver,

and material will be produced for a silversmith.

Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Don’t boast about yourself before the king,

and don’t stand in the place of the great;

for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here!”

than to demote you in plain view of a noble.

It is God’s privilege to conceal things

and the king’s privilege to discover them.

No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,

or all that goes on in the king’s mind!

Remove the impurities from silver,

and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.

Remove the wicked from the king’s court,

and his reign will be made secure by justice.

Don’t demand an audience with the king

or push for a place among the great.

It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table

than to be sent away in public disgrace.

Just because you’ve seen something,

The glory of God conceals things,

but the glory of kings searches out things.

As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth,

so is the heart of kings—there is no searching.

Remove the dross from silver,

and it will become a vessel for the smith.

Remove the wicked before a king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Do not promote yourself before the king,

and in the place of the great ones do not stand.

For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,”

than he humble you before a noble.

What your eyes have seen,

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing:

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

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth,

And the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Take away the dross from the silver,

And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

Take away the wicked from before the king,

And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king,

And stand not in the place of great men:

For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither;

Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince

Whom thine eyes have seen.