Similitudes, Instructions
25 These also are (A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2 It is the glory of God to (B)conceal a matter,
But the glory of (C)kings 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 (D)dross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the (E)smith;
5 Take away the (F)wicked before the king,
And his (G)throne 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 (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.
8 Do not go out (I)hastily to [a]argue your case;
[b]Otherwise, what will you do in [c]the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
9 [d](J)Argue your case with your neighbor,
And (K)do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not [e]pass away.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a (L)word spoken in [f]right circumstances.
12 Like [g]an (M)earring of gold and an (N)ornament of (O)fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a (P)listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the [h]time of harvest
Is a (Q)faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (R)clouds and (S)wind without rain
Is a man who boasts [i]of his gifts falsely.
15 By [j](T)forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you (U)found honey? Eat only [k]what 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 [l]weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club and a (V)sword and a sharp (W)arrow
Is a man who bears (X)false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like a bad tooth and [m]an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a (Y)faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on [n]soda,
Is he who sings songs to [o]a troubled heart.
21 (Z)If [p]your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will [q]heap burning coals on his head,
And (AA)the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And a [r](AB)backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24 It is (AC)better to live in a corner of the roof
Than [s]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is (AD)good news from a distant land.
26 Like a (AE)trampled spring and a [t]polluted 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 (AF)search out [u]one’s own glory.
28 Like a (AG)city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man (AH)who has no control over his spirit.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Lit contend
- Proverbs 25:8 Lit Lest
- Proverbs 25:8 Lit its
- Proverbs 25:9 Lit Contend
- Proverbs 25:10 Lit return
- Proverbs 25:11 Lit its
- Proverbs 25:12 Or a nose ring
- Proverbs 25:13 Lit day
- Proverbs 25:14 Lit in a gift of falsehood
- Proverbs 25:15 Lit length of anger
- Proverbs 25:16 Lit your sufficiency
- Proverbs 25:17 Lit surfeited with
- Proverbs 25:19 Lit a slipping foot
- Proverbs 25:20 I.e. natron
- Proverbs 25:20 Lit an evil
- Proverbs 25:21 Lit one who hates you
- Proverbs 25:22 Lit snatch up
- Proverbs 25:23 Lit tongue of secrecy
- Proverbs 25:24 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
- Proverbs 25:26 Lit ruined
- Proverbs 25:27 Lit their
Cross references
- Proverbs 25:1 : Prov 1:1
- Proverbs 25:2 : Deut 29:29; Rom 11:33
- Proverbs 25:2 : Ezra 6:1
- Proverbs 25:4 : Prov 26:23; Ezek 22:18
- Proverbs 25:4 : Mal 3:2, 3
- Proverbs 25:5 : Prov 20:8
- Proverbs 25:5 : Prov 16:12
- Proverbs 25:7 : Luke 14:7-11
- Proverbs 25:8 : Prov 17:14; Matt 5:25
- Proverbs 25:9 : Matt 18:15
- Proverbs 25:9 : Prov 11:13
- Proverbs 25:11 : Prov 15:23
- Proverbs 25:12 : Ex 32:2; 35:22; Ezek 16:12
- Proverbs 25:12 : 2 Sam 1:24
- Proverbs 25:12 : Job 28:17
- Proverbs 25:12 : Prov 15:31; 20:12
- Proverbs 25:13 : Prov 13:17
- Proverbs 25:14 : Jude 12
- Proverbs 25:14 : Jer 5:13; Mic 2:11
- Proverbs 25:15 : Gen 32:4; 1 Sam 25:24; Eccl 10:4
- Proverbs 25:16 : Judg 14:8; 1 Sam 14:25
- Proverbs 25:18 : Ps 57:4; Prov 12:18
- Proverbs 25:18 : Jer 9:8
- Proverbs 25:18 : Ex 20:16; Prov 24:28
- Proverbs 25:19 : Job 6:15; Is 36:6
- Proverbs 25:21 : Ex 23:4, 5; 2 Kin 6:22; 2 Chr 28:15; Matt 5:44; Rom 12:20
- Proverbs 25:22 : 2 Sam 16:12; Matt 6:4, 6
- Proverbs 25:23 : Ps 101:5
- Proverbs 25:24 : Prov 21:9
- Proverbs 25:25 : Prov 15:30
- Proverbs 25:26 : Ezek 32:2; 34:18, 19
- Proverbs 25:27 : Prov 27:2; Luke 14:11
- Proverbs 25:28 : Prov 16:32
- Proverbs 25:28 : 2 Chr 32:5; Neh 1:3