Pro 25 | EE | STEP | These are more of the proverbs of Solomon. Hezekiah’s men wrote them down when Hezekiah was king of Judah.

Proverbs 25

More of the Proverbs of Solomon

1 These are more of the proverbs of Solomon. Hezekiah’s men wrote them down when Hezekiah was king of Judah. ^{▼▼25:1 King Hezekiah lived 250 years after King Solomon. Hezekiah was a good king. He served God.} ^{▼▼25:1 The style of these proverbs is different from the style of the proverbs in chapters 10 to 22. Some of these proverbs are longer. And many of these proverbs are in subject groups.}

2 God hides things because he is great. But great kings discover things.

3 You never know what a king is thinking. His thoughts are beyond us like the sky that is so high above us. His thoughts are beyond us like the earth that is so deep beneath us.

4 Take the dirt out of the silver. Then the man that works with the silver can make a beautiful thing.

5 Keep very bad men away from the king. Then his government will be good.

6 Perhaps you may stand in front of the king. Do not try to cause him to think that you are great. And do not stand where the important people stand.

7 It will be good if the king asks you to sit on a more important seat. That would be better than if he asks you to give your seat to someone more important than you.

8 Do not be too quick to tell a ruler about something that you have seen. Another man may tell the ruler something different. You may be wrong. Then you will not know what you should do.

9 If you and another man argue, try to agree with him. Do not tell his secrets.

10 If you do tell his secrets, everyone will hear them. People will always think that you are a bad person.

11 A wise word is like apples of gold on a silver plate.

12 The words of a wise man are like a gold ring for the ear. They are like gold round the neck. Only someone who wants to learn will hear them.

13 A good man may bring messages from his master. He helps his master who sent him. He is like cold water during the time of harvest. He helps his master to feel better.

14 Some people promise things that they never give. They are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

15 A careful man who works slowly can change the thoughts of a ruler. And a careful word can change the thoughts of an angry man.

16 Never eat more honey than you need. If you eat too much honey, you will be a sick man.

17 Do not visit the people who live near to you too often. They may get tired of you and you will make them angry.

18 Some men tell lies about those people who live near to them. They are like the heavy sticks or the sharp knives or the arrows that soldiers use.

19 A man who is not honest in times of trouble is like a bad tooth or a bad foot.

20 To sing to a sad man is the same as to put salt into places on his body that hurt. Or it is like someone who takes away his coat on a cold day.

21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he needs a drink, give it to him.

22 You will make him ashamed and the LORD will give gifts to you.

23 The north wind brings rain. And a man who tells lies about people makes them angry.

24 It is better to live on the roof than to live in a house with a quarrelling wife.

25 As cold water is to a tired person, so is good news from a far away country.

26 Sometimes a good person does what a very bad person wants him to do. It is like when you drink dirty water. It is like when you take water from a dirty well.

27 Too much honey is bad for you. It is wrong, also, when you want people to speak well about you.

28 An angry man is a weak man. He is like a city without walls that an enemy attacks.