Proverbs 25

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah

25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon,

which the men of King Hezekiah 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 is 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 afterward

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 never go away.

25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,¹⁹

so is a word skillfully spoken.²⁰

25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,²¹

so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.²²

25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest,²³

so is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

for he refreshes the heart²⁴ of his masters.

25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain,²⁵

so 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 only what is sufficient for you,

lest you become stuffed³³ with it and vomit it up.³⁴

25:17 Don’t set foot too frequently³⁵ in your neighbor’s house,

lest he become weary³⁶ of you and hate 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 joint,⁴⁰

so is confidence⁴¹ in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.⁴²

25:20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,⁴³

or like vinegar poured on soda,⁴⁴

so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.⁴⁵

25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,⁴⁶

and the Lord will reward you.⁴⁷

25:23 The north wind⁴⁸ brings forth rain,

and a gossiping tongue⁴⁹ brings forth⁵⁰ an angry look.⁵¹

25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop

than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.⁵²

25:25 Like cold water to a weary person,⁵³

so is good news from a distant land.⁵⁴

25:26 Like a muddied⁵⁵ spring and a polluted⁵⁶ well,

so is a righteous person who gives way⁵⁷ before the wicked.

25:27 It is not good⁵⁸ to eat too much honey,

nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.⁵⁹

25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without a wall,

so is a person who cannot control his temper.⁶⁰

Next Chapter