Proverbs 25
1 These are the
aPossibly genuine, q. d. beyond doubt.miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of
Judea copied out.
2 The glory of God conceals a matter:
but the glory of a king honours business.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep,
and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall
be made entirely pure. 5 Slay the
ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of
the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 for
it is better for thee that it should be said, Come up
to me, than that one should humble thee in the
presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel,
lest thou repent at last. 9 Whenever
thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise
him not;
10 lest thy friend continue to
reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to
thee like death. 10a Favour and
friendship set a man free, which do thou keep for
thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways
peaceably.
11 As a
golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so is it to
speak a wise word.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious
sardius is also set; so is a wise word to an obedient
ear. 13 As a fall of snow in the time
of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger
refreshes those that send him; for he helps the souls
of his employers.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are
most evident objects, so is he that boasts of a false
gift. 15 In long-suffering is
prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Having found honey, eat
only what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and
vomit it up. 17 Enter sparingly into
thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
18 As a
club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false
witness against his friend. 19 The
way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil
day.
20 As vinegar is bad for a sore, so
trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart.
20a As a moth in a garment, and a
worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him;
if he thirst, give him drink; 22 for
so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall
reward thee with good.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so
an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 It is better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than
with a railing woman in an open house.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a
thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 As if one should stop a well, and
corrupt a spring of water, so is it unseemly for a
righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 It is not
good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
28 As a city whose walls are broken
down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.