Proverbs, 25

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

1. These are also Proverbs of Solomon, recorded in the time of Heze- kiah, king of Judah.

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

2. The glory of God is in hiding secrets and the glory of the king, in revealing them.

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

3. As high as the skies, as deep as the earth, such is the heart of kings.

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

4. Remove the impurity from silver and it will become a vessel in the hands of the silversmith.

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

5. Remove the wicked from the king's presence and he will affirm his power through justice.

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

6. Do not boast before the king or put yourself among the great.

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.

7. It would be better to be invited, "Come up here," than to be humiliated after having seen the prince.

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.

8. Do not be too hasty in accusing your neighbor for what would happen to you should he confound you?

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

9. Defend your case against your neighbor but do not reveal the secret of another,

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

10. lest he overhear it and despise you and your reputation be lost.

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

11. An opportune word is like golden apples encased in silver.

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

12. A gold ring or an ornament of fine gold, such is the wise man's rebuke to a responsive person.

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.

13. The trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow at harvest time, to him who sends him: he revives the soul of his master.

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

14. Clouds and wind but no rain, such is the one who promises but does not fulfill.

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

15. With a little patience you will persuade the judge; a soft tongue can break bones.

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

16. If you find honey, eat enough but not too much, lest you bring it up again.

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

17. Go rarely to your neighbor's house lest he tire of you and grow to hate you.

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

18. A mace, a sword, a keen arrow: such is the one who lies about his neighbor.

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

19. A decaying tooth, a lame foot, such is the trust put in the ungodly on the day of trouble.

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.

20. Singing songs to a grieving person is like taking off your cloak in frosty weather or pouring vinegar into a wound.

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

21. If your enemy is hungry give him something to eat, if thirsty, something to drink;

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

22. thus you pile up red-hot coals on his head and Yahweh will reward you.

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

23. As the north wind brings the rain, so the gossiping tongue leaves angry faces.

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

24. Better the corner of a barn to live in than a house shared with a whimsical woman.

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

25. Good news from a distant country is like cool water to a dry throat.

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

26. A churning river or a polluted spring is like the virtuous man who trembles before the evildoer.

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

27. It is not good to eat too much honey and even less good to be greedy for honors.

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

28. The man who cannot contain his anger is like an open city, without defenses.