Proverbs 25

²It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

³Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,

so the mind 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 directly,

and do not disclose another’s secret;

¹⁰or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute will 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 rebuke to a listening ear.

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

are faithful messengers to those who send them;

they refresh the spirit of their masters.

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain

is one who boasts of a gift never given.

¹⁵With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue can break bones.

¹⁶If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

or else, having too much, you will vomit it.

¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

otherwise the neighbor will become weary of you and hate you.

¹⁸Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow

is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.

¹⁹Like a bad tooth or a lame foot

is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.

²⁰Like vinegar on a wound

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,

sorrow gnaws at the human heart.

²¹If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;

and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;

²²for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,

and the Lord will reward you.

²³The north wind produces 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 contentious wife.

²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

are the righteous who give way before the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey,

or to seek honor on top of honor.

²⁸Like a city breached, without walls,

is one who lacks self-control.