Pro 25 | ESV | STEP | These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied .

Proverbs 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

1 These also are ^aproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

2 It is the glory of God to ^bconceal things,
but the glory of kings is to ^csearch things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is ^dunsearchable.
4 Take away ^ethe dross from the silver,
and ^fthe smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away ^gthe wicked from the presence of the king,
and his ^hthrone 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 ⁱit is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
8 ^jdo not hastily bring into court,
for ^{▼▼Hebrew or else} what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 ^lArgue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another’s secret,
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.
11 ^mA word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like ⁿa gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to ^oa listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is ^pa faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like ^qclouds and wind without rain
is a man who ^rboasts of a gift he does not give.
15 With ^spatience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have ^tfound honey, eat ^uonly enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18 A man who ^vbears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or ^wa sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 Whoever ^xsings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21 ^yIf your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap ^zburning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 ^aaIt is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to ^aba thirsty soul,
so is ^acgood news from a far country.
26 Like ^ada muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is ^aenot good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to ^afseek one’s own glory. ^{▼▼The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain}
28 A man ^ahwithout self-control
is like ^aia city broken into and left without walls.