Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah
25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon,
which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah copied.1
25:2 It is the glory of God2
to conceal3
a matter;
and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.
25:3 As the heaven is high4
and the earth deep
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.5
25:4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and material6
for the silversmith will emerge;
25:5 remove the wicked from before the king,7
and his throne8
will be established in righteousness.9
25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;
25:7 for it is better for him10
to say to you, “Come up here,”11
than to put you lower12
before a prince,
whom your eyes have seen.13
25:8 Do not go out hastily to litigation,14
or15
what will you do after it
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
25:9 When you argue a case16
with your neighbor,
do not reveal the secret of another person,17
25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame
and your infamy18
will not turn away.
25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver19
is a word fitly spoken.20
25:12 Like an earring of gold, and an ornament
of fine gold,21
so is a wise reprover on the ear of the one who listens.22
25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest23
is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
for he refreshes the soul24
of his masters.
25:14 Like clouded skies and wind without rain25
is the one who boasts26
of a gift not given.27
25:15 Through patience28
a ruler can be persuaded,29
and a soft tongue30
can break a bone.31
25:16 When you find32
honey, eat what is sufficient for you;
lest you should become filled33
with it and vomit it.34
25:17 Make your foot rare35
in your neighbor’s house,
lest he gets his fill36
of you and hates you.
25:18 Like a club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow,37
so is the one who testifies against38
his neighbor as a false witness.39
25:19 Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint40
is confidence41
in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.42
25:20 Like one who takes away43
a garment on a cold day,44
or like vinegar poured in soda,45
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.46
25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,47
and the LORD will reward you.48
25:23 The north wind49
brings forth rain,
and a sly tongue50
an angry look.51
25:24 It is better to dwell on a corner of the housetop
than in a house in common with a quarrelsome wife.52
25:25 Like cold water to a weary person53
is good news from a distant land.54
25:26 Like a muddied55
spring and a polluted56
well
is a righteous person who gives way57
before the wicked.
25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable for people to search their own glory.58
25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without a wall
is a person whose spirit is without restraint.59