Proverbs 25
Analogies of Wisdom
25These also are aproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2It is the glory of God to aconceal a matter,But the glory of bkings is to search out a matter.3As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,So the heart of kings is unsearchable.4Take away the adross from the silver,And there comes out a vessel for the bsmith;5Take away the awicked before the king,And his bthrone will be established in righteousness.6Do not promote your majesty in the presence of the king,And in the place of great men do not stand;7For ait is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of a noble,Whom your eyes have seen.8Do not go out ahastily to plead your case;Lest, what will you do in 1the end,When your neighbor humiliates you?9aPlead your case with your neighbor,And bdo not reveal the secret of another,10Lest he who hears it bring disgrace upon you,And the bad report about you will not turn away.11Like apples of gold in settings of silverIs a aword spoken in 1right circumstances.12Like 1an aearring of gold and an bornament of cfine goldIs a wise reprover to a dlistening ear.13Like the cold of snow in the 1time of harvestIs a afaithful envoy to those who send him,For he refreshes the soul of his masters.14Like aclouds and bwind without rainIs a man who boasts 1of his gifts falsely.15aWhen one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded,And a soft tongue breaks the bone.16Have you afound honey? Eat only enough for you,Lest you have more than your fill and vomit it.17Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,Lest he have more than his fill of you and hate you.18Like a club and a asword and a sharp barrowIs a man who bears 1,cfalse witness against his neighbor.19Like 1an aching tooth and a slipping footIs trust in a atreacherous man in a day of distress.20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on 1soda,Is he who sings songs to 2an aching heart.21aIf 1your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;22For you will 1heap burning coals on his head,And aYahweh will repay you.23The north wind brings forth rain,And a atongue of secrets, an indignant face.24It is abetter to live in a corner of the roofThan 1in a house shared with a contentious woman.25Like cold water to a weary soul,So is a agood report from a distant land.26Like a amuddied spring and a corrupted wellIs a righteous man shaking before the wicked.27To eat too much honey is not good,Nor is it glory to asearch out 1one’s own glory.28Like a acity that is broken into and without a wallIs a man bwithout restraint over his spirit.