Proverbs 25

¹ These too are proverbs of Solomon,
copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
but the glory of kings to search it out.

³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
and a vessel comes forth for the smith;

⁵ remove the wicked from the king's presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
or take a place among the great,

⁷ for it is better to be told, 'Come up here,'
than to be put down before a noble.
What your eyes have seen

⁸ do not hasten to bring into a legal dispute,
for what will you do in the end
when your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹ Settle your dispute with your neighbor yourself
and do not betray another's confidence,

¹⁰ or whoever hears you will shame you,
and your ill repute will not depart.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

¹² A wise reprover to a listening ear
is like a gold ring and an ornament of fine gold.

¹³ Like the cold of snow in harvest time
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 person who boasts of a gift never given.

¹⁵ With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat only 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 come to hate you.

¹⁸ A person who bears false witness against a neighbor
is like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Trusting an unfaithful person in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.

²⁰ Taking off a garment on a cold day,
like vinegar poured on soda,
is one who sings songs to a troubled heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

²² for you will heap burning coals upon his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue brings forth an angry face.

²⁴ It is better to live on a corner of the roof
than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul,
so is good news from a distant land.

²⁶ A righteous man who gives way before the wicked
is like a muddied spring and a polluted well.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

²⁸ A man without self-control
is like a city broken down, without walls.