Proverbs 25

¹These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied .

²It is the glory of God to conceal things , but the glory of kings is to search things out .

³As the heavens for height , and the earth for depth , so the heart of kings is unsearchable .

⁴Take away the dross from the silver , and the smith has material for a vessel ;

⁵take away the wicked from the presence of the king , and his throne will be established in righteousness .

⁶Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great ,

⁷for it is better to be told , Come up here , than to be put lower in the presence of a noble . What your eyes have seen

⁸do not hastily bring into court , for what will you do in the end , when your neighbor puts you to shame ?

⁹Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret ,

¹⁰lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end .

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

¹²Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear .

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters .

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give .

¹⁵With patience a ruler may be persuaded , and a soft tongue will break a bone .

¹⁶If you have found honey , eat only enough for you , lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house , lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

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

¹⁹Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips .

²⁰Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day , and like vinegar on soda .

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

²²for you will heap burning coals on his head , and the Lord will reward you.

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

²⁴It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife .

²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul , so is good news from a far country .

²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked .

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

²⁸A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls .