Proverb 25

Proverbs 25 (New American Standard Bible)

Proverbs 25

Similitudes, Instructions

 ¹These also are ^(A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
    ²It is the glory of God to ^(B)conceal a matter,
         But the glory of ^(C)kings 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 ^(D)dross from the silver,
         And there comes out a vessel for the ^(E)smith;
    ⁵Take away the ^(F)wicked before the king,
         And his ^(G)throne will be established in righteousness.
    ⁶Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,
         And do not stand in the place of great men;
    ⁷For ^(H)it 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.
    ⁸Do not go out ^(I)hastily to argue your case;
         Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
         When your neighbor humiliates you?
    ^9(J)Argue your case with your neighbor,
         And ^(K)do not reveal the secret of another,
    ¹⁰Or he who hears it will reproach you,
         And the evil report about you will not pass away.
    ¹¹Like apples of gold in settings of silver
         Is a ^(L)word spoken in right circumstances.
    ¹²Like an ^(M)earring of gold and an ^(N)ornament of ^(O)fine gold
         Is a wise reprover to a ^(P)listening ear.
    ¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
         Is a ^(Q)faithful messenger to those who send him,
         For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
    ¹⁴Like ^(R)clouds and ^(S)wind without rain
         Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
    ¹⁵By ^(T)forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
         And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
    ¹⁶Have you ^(U)found honey? Eat only what you need,
         That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
    ¹⁷Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor's house,
         Or he will become weary of you and hate you.
    ¹⁸Like a club and a ^(V)sword and a sharp ^(W)arrow
         Is a man who bears ^(X)false witness against his neighbor.
    ¹⁹Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot
         Is confidence in a ^(Y)faithless man in time of trouble.
    ²⁰Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
         Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.
    ^21(Z)If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
         And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
    ²²For you will heap burning coals on his head,
         And ^(AA)the LORD will reward you.
    ²³The north wind brings forth rain,
         And a ^(AB)backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
    ²⁴It is ^(AC)better to live in a corner of the roof
         Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
    ²⁵Like cold water to a weary soul,
         So is ^(AD)good news from a distant land.
    ²⁶Like a ^(AE)trampled spring and a polluted well
         Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
    ²⁷It is not good to eat much honey,
         Nor is it glory to ^(AF)search out one's own glory.
    ²⁸Like a ^(AG)city that is broken into and without walls
         Is a man ^(AH)who has no control over his spirit.