Proverbs 25 (Holman Christian Standard)

Hezekiah's Collection

1 These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. 3 As the heaven is high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated. 4 Remove impurities from silver, and a vessel will be produced^a for a silversmith. 5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. 6 Don't brag about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great; 7 for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!" than to demote you in plain view of a noble.^{b c} 8 Don't take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterwards if your opponent^d humiliates you? 9 Make your case with your opponent^e without revealing another's secret; 10 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you'll never live it down.^{f g} 11 A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray.^{h i} 12 A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold. 13 To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters.^j 14 The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain. 15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^k 16 If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit.^l 17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house; otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you. 18 A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. 19 Trusting an unreliable person in a time of trouble is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot. 20 Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day, or like [pouring] vinegar on soda.^m 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22 for you will heap coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.ⁿ 23 The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. 24 Better to live on the corner of a roof than in a house shared with a nagging wife.^o 25 Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat.^{p q} 26 A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well. 27 It is not good to eat too much honey,^r or to seek glory after glory. 28 A man who does not control his temper^s is like a city whose wall is broken down.