Old Testament

Proverbs 25
More Proverbs of Solomon
251These also are the proverbs of Solomon,
which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah compiled.[]
2It brings glory to God to hide a matter,
but it brings glory to kings to investigate a matter.
3As heaven is high and earth is deep,
so there is no searching the heart of kings.
4Remove impurities from silver,
and a vessel can be cast by a silversmith.
5Remove a wicked person from a king's presence,
and his throne will be established with righteousness.
6Do not honor yourself in a king's presence.
Do not stand in a place reserved for great people,
7because it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than for you to be humiliated before a ruler
whom your eyes have seen.[]
8Do not be in a hurry to go to court.
Otherwise, what will you do afterward,
when your neighbor humiliates you?
9Argue your case with your neighbor,
but do not reveal someone else's secret.
10If you do, the person who hears it will shame you,
and your bad reputation will never leave you.
11A word spoken at the right time
is like golden apples in silver settings.
12To ears that listen, a wise person's correction
is like a gold ring or like jewelry made of pure gold.
13To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger
is like cooling snow on a warm day during harvest.
He refreshes his masters' spirits.
14A person who brags about a gift that is never given
is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15By patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break a bone.
16When you find honey, eat only what you need.
Otherwise you will be filled with it and vomit it up.
17Do not set foot in your neighbor's house too often.
If you do, he will have too much of you and hate you.
18A person who gives false testimony against his neighbor
is a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19Confidence in an unfaithful person during a time of crisis
is like a broken tooth or a lame foot.
20Singing songs to a despondent heart
is like taking off a coat on a cold day
or like vinegar on baking soda.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,
22because you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will repay you.
23A north wind gives birth to rain,
and a whispering tongue gives birth to angry faces.
24Better to live on the corner of a roof
than in a home shared with a nagging wife.
25Good news from a distant country is
like cold water for a weary soul.
26A righteous person who is swayed by the wicked
is a muddied spring or a polluted fountain.
27Eating too much honey is not good,
and people seeking their own glory is not glorious.[]
28A person who lacks self-control
is like a broken-down city without a wall.

Footnotes

  • 25:1 Or transcribed
  • 25:7 Many translations associate this line with verse 8: What you have seen with your eye do not bring quickly into court. Manuscript evidence supports a connection with verse 7, but sense seems to favor including it with verse 8.
  • 25:27 The line is cryptic.