1These are more proverbs of Solomon. They were gathered together 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 impossible to figure out.4Remove the scum from the silver. Then the master worker can make something out of it.5Remove ungodly officials from where the king is. Then the king can make his throne secure because of the godliness around him.6Don’t boast in front of the king. Don’t claim a place among his great men.7Let the king say to you, ‘Come up here.’ That’s better than for him to shame you in front of his nobles. What you have seen with your own eyes8don’t bring too quickly to court. What will you do in the end if your neighbour puts you to shame?9If you take your neighbour to court, don’t tell others any secrets you promised to keep.10If you do, someone might hear it and put you to shame. And the charge against you will stand.11The right ruling at the right time is like golden apples in silver jewellery.12A wise judge’s warning to a listening ear is like a gold earring or jewellery made of fine gold.13A messenger trusted by the one who sends him is like a drink cooled by snow at harvest time. He renews the spirit of his master.14A person who boasts about gifts never given 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 neighbour’s home very often. If they see too much of you, they will hate you.18A person who is a false witness against a neighbour is like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow.19Trusting someone who is not faithful when trouble comes is like a broken 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 a wound.21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.22By doing these things, you will pile up burning coals on his head. And the LORD will reward you.23Like a north wind that brings rain you didn’t expect is a crafty tongue that brings looks of shock.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 godly people give in to those who are evil. Then they become 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 search out matters too deep for you.28A person without self-control is like a city whose walls are broken through.
Proverbs 25
English Standard Version
More Proverbs of Solomon
1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. (Pr 1:1)2It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. (De 29:29; Job 29:16; Ro 11:33)3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. (Ps 145:3)4Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; (Eze 22:18; Mal 3:2; 2Ti 2:20)5take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. (Pr 16:12; Pr 20:8)6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great,7for 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 (Lu 14:8)8do not hastily bring into court,[1] for[2] what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? (Pr 17:14; Mt 5:25; Lu 12:58)9Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, (Mt 18:15)10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Pr 15:23; Isa 50:4)12Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. (Ge 24:22; Pr 15:31; Pr 20:12)13Like 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. (Pr 13:17)14Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. (Pr 20:6; Jud 1:12)15With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. (Pr 15:1; Pr 16:14; Ec 10:4)16If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. (Jud 14:8; 1Sa 14:25; Pr 25:27)17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. (Ps 57:4; Pr 12:18; Pr 24:28)19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.20Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. (Ro 12:15)21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, (Ex 23:4; 2Ki 6:22; 2Ch 28:15; Ro 12:20)22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. (Ps 140:10)23The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.24It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. (Pr 21:9)25Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. (Ps 42:2; Pr 15:30)26Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. (Eze 32:2; Eze 34:18)27It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.[3] (Pr 25:16; Pr 27:2)28A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. (2Ch 32:5; 2Ch 36:19; Ne 1:3; Pr 16:32)