Proverbs 25

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

²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. ³The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. ⁵Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:⁷For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. ⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:¹⁰Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. ¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. ¹⁴Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. ¹⁵By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. ¹⁶Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. ¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. ¹⁸A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. ¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. ²⁰As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

²¹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: ²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. ²³The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. ²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. ²⁵As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. ²⁷It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. ²⁸He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.