Proverbs 25

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 mind 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 the prince. 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 disclose 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 spirit 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 be sated with it and vomit it.

¹⁷ Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary 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 Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

²⁰ He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on a wound.

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 coals of fire 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 contentious woman.

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, so be sparing of complimentary words.

²⁸ A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.