Chapter 25

Similitudes, Instructions

1 These also are aproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

2 It is the glory of God to aconceal a matter,

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

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

So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take away the adross from the silver,

And there comes out a vessel for the bsmith;

5 Take away the awicked before the king,

And his bthrone will be established in righteousness.

6 Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,

And do not stand in the place of great men;

7 For ait is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”

Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,

Whom your eyes have seen.

8 Do not go out ahastily to 1argue your case;

2Otherwise, what will you do in 3the end,

When your neighbor humiliates you?

9 1aArgue your case with your neighbor,

And bdo not reveal the secret of another,

10 Or he who hears it will reproach you,

And the evil report about you will not 1pass away.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver

Is a aword spoken in 1right circumstances.

12 Like 1an aearring of gold and an bornament of cfine gold

Is a wise reprover to a dlistening ear.

13 Like the cold of snow in the 1time of harvest

Is a afaithful messenger to those who send him,

For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 Like aclouds and bwind without rain

Is a man who boasts 1of his gifts falsely.

15 By 1aforbearance a ruler may be persuaded,

And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

16 Have you afound honey? Eat only 1what you need,

That you not have it in excess and vomit it.

17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,

Or he will become 1weary of you and hate you.

18 Like a club and a asword and a sharp barrow

Is a man who bears cfalse witness against his neighbor.

19 Like a bad tooth and 1an unsteady foot

Is confidence in a afaithless man in time of trouble.

20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on 1soda,

Is he who sings songs to 2a troubled heart.

21 aIf 1your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

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

22 For you will 1heap burning coals on his head,

And athe Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,

And a 1abackbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

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

Than 1in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul,

So is agood news from a distant land.

26 Like a atrampled spring and a 1polluted 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 asearch out 1one’s own glory.

28 Like a acity that is broken into and without walls

Is a man bwho has no control over his spirit.