Sprüche 25 | New International Reader’s Version

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon. They were gathered together by the men of Hezekiah, the king of Judah. 2 When God hides a matter, he gets glory. When kings figure out a matter, they get glory. 3 The heavens are high and the earth is deep. In the same way, the minds of kings are impossible to figure out. 4 Remove the scum from the silver. Then the master worker can make something out of it. 5 Remove ungodly officials from where the king is. Then the king can make his throne secure because of the godliness around him. 6 Don’t boast in front of the king. Don’t claim a place among his great men. 7 Let 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 eyes 8 don’t bring too quickly to court. What will you do in the end if your neighbour puts you to shame? 9 If you take your neighbour to court, don’t tell others any secrets you promised to keep. 10 If you do, someone might hear it and put you to shame. And the charge against you will stand. 11 The right ruling at the right time is like golden apples in silver jewellery. 12 A wise judge’s warning to a listening ear is like a gold earring or jewellery made of fine gold. 13 A 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. 14 A person who boasts about gifts never given is like wind and clouds that don’t produce rain. 15 If you are patient, you can win an official over to your side. And gentle words can break a bone. 16 If you find honey, eat just enough. If you eat too much of it, you will throw up. 17 Don’t go to your neighbour’s home very often. If they see too much of you, they will hate you. 18 A person who is a false witness against a neighbour is like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow. 19 Trusting someone who is not faithful when trouble comes is like a broken tooth or a disabled foot. 20 You 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. 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 By doing these things, you will pile up burning coals on his head. And the LORD will reward you. 23 Like a north wind that brings rain you didn’t expect is a crafty tongue that brings looks of shock. 24 It is better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. 25 Hearing good news from a land far away is like drinking cold water when you are tired. 26 Sometimes godly people give in to those who are evil. Then they become like a muddy spring of water or a polluted well. 27 It isn’t good for you to eat too much honey. And you shouldn’t try to search out matters too deep for you. 28 A person without self-control is like a city whose walls are broken through.

English Standard Version

More Proverbs of Solomon

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. 3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; 5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. 6 Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, 7 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 8 do not hastily bring into court,* for* what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? 9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, 10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. 12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. 13 Like 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. 14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. 15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. 16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. 17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. 18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. 19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. 20 Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. 23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. 24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. 25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. 27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.* 28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Sprüche 25 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

More Proverbs of Solomon