Proverbs 25 (New American Standard)

Similitudes, Instructions

1 These also are ¹proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed. 2 It is the glory of God to ²conceal a matter, But the glory of ³kings is to search out a matter. 3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable . 4 Take away the ⁴dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the ⁵smith ; 5 Take away the ⁶wicked before the king, And his ⁷throne will be established in righteousness. 6 Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men ; 7 For ⁸it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. 8 Do not go out ⁹hastily to ^aargue your case; ^bOtherwise, what will you do in ^cthe end, When your neighbor humiliates you? 9 ^d10Argue your case with your neighbor, And ¹¹do not reveal the secret of another, 10 Or he who hears it will reproach you, And the evil report about you will not ^epass away. 11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a ¹²word spoken in ^fright circumstances. 12 Like ^gan ¹³earring of gold and an ¹⁴ornament of ¹⁵fine gold Is a wise reprover to a ¹⁶listening ear. 13 Like the cold of snow in the ^htime of harvest Is a ¹⁷faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14 Like ¹⁸clouds and ¹⁹wind without rain Is a man who boasts ⁱof his gifts falsely. 15 By ^j20forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone. 16 Have you ²¹found honey ? Eat only ^kwhat you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it. 17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor's house, Or he will become ^lweary of you and hate you. 18 Like a club and a ²²sword and a sharp ²³arrow Is a man who bears ²⁴false witness against his neighbor. 19 Like a bad tooth and ^man unsteady foot Is confidence in a ²⁵faithless man in time of trouble. 20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on ⁿsoda, Is he who sings songs to ^oa troubled heart. 21 ²⁶If ^pyour enemy is hungry, give him food to eat ; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink ; 22 For you will ^qheap burning coals on his head, And ²⁷the LORD will reward you. 23 The north wind brings forth rain, And a ^r28backbiting tongue, an angry countenance. 24 It is ²⁹better to live in a corner of the roof Than ^sin a house shared with a contentious woman. 25 Like cold water to a weary soul, So is ³⁰good news from a distant land. 26 Like a ³¹trampled spring and a ^tpolluted well Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. 27 It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it glory to ³²search out ^uone's own glory. 28 Like a ³³city that is broken into and without walls Is a man ³⁴who has no control over his spirit.