Proverbs 25

1 These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.

5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,

10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

16 If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.

18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

1 ¶ These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2 ¶ [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.

3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.

4 ¶ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 ¶ Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]:

7 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.

8 ¶ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself]; and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 ¶ A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 ¶ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14 ¶ Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.

15 ¶ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16 ¶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17 ¶ Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.

18 ¶ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 ¶ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20 ¶ [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so [is] he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21 ¶ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23 ¶ The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 ¶ [It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 ¶ [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country.

26 ¶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27 ¶ [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.

28 ¶ He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.

1 These also are the sayings of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah added unto them.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter: but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3 The heavens are high, and the earth is low: but the heart of the king is unsearchable.

4 Put the foam from the silver, and it shall be a pure vessel.

5 Let the king's wickedness be done, and his throne shall be established with righteousness.

6 range not before the king, and enter not into the place of the great.

7 For it is better for thee that it should be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be humbled before the prince, that thine eyes should see.

8 Go not forth soon to quarrel: for what wilt thou do hereafter, when thou hast defiled thy neighbour?

9 Handle thy business with thy neighbour, and reveal not another's secrecy,

10 Lest he that heareth it speak evil of thee, and let not thy evil report cease.

11 A word spoken in his season is as apples of gold in bowls of silver.

12 He that punisheth a wise man that obeyeth him is as a golden headband, and as a golden collar.

13 As the cold of the snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, and restoreth his lord's soul.

14 He that speaketh much, and keepeth not, is as clouds and wind without rain;

15 By patience a prince is reconciled, and a gentle tongue breaketh hardness.

16 If thou find honey, eat enough of it, that thou be not full, and spit it out.

17 Remove thy foot from thy neighbour's house: for he is weary of thee, and hateth thee.

18 He that speaketh false witness against his neighbour is a spear, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 The hope of the despiser in time of trouble is as a rotten tooth and a slippery foot.

20 He that sings songs to an evil heart is as a torn garment in winter, and vinegar upon the chalk.

21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him with bread; if he thirst, give him drink of water.

22 For thou shalt heap coals upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23 The north wind bringeth tempests, and the secret tongue maketh the face sour.

24 It is better to sit on the housetop in a corner than to sit in a house with a quarrelsome woman.

25 a good rumor from distant lands in like cold water to a thirsty soul.

26 A righteous man falling before an ungodly man is as a turbid well and a corrupt fountain.

27 He that eateth too much honey is not good; and he that searcheth after heavy things is heavy.

28 A man that cannot keep his spirit is like an open city without walls.