Proverbs 25New King James Version
Further Wise Sayings of Solomon
25 These(A)alsoareproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:
2 (B)It isthe glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kingsisto search out a matter.
3 Asthe heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kingsisunsearchable.
4 (C)Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmithforjewelry.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in(D)righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of the great;
7 (E)Forit isbetter that he say to you,
“Come up here,”
Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.
8 (F)Do not go hastily to[a]court;
For what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor has put you to shame?
9 (G)Debate your case with your neighbor,
And do not disclose the secret to another;
10 Lest he who hearsitexpose your shame,
And[b]your reputation be ruined.
11 A word fitly(H)spokenis likeapples of gold
In settings of silver.
12 Likean earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Isa wise rebuker to an obedient ear.
13 (I)Like the cold of snow in time of harvest
Isa faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
15 (L)By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.
16 Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18 (M)A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
Is likea club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithfulmanin time of trouble
Is likea bad tooth and a foot out of joint.
20 Likeone who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And likevinegar on soda,
Isone who(N)sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 (O)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 Forsoyou will heap coals of fire on his head,
(P)And theLordwill reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And(Q)a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 (R)It isbetter to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Ascold water to a weary soul,
Sois(S)good news from a far country.
26 A righteousmanwho falters before the wicked
Is likea murky spring and a[c]polluted well.
27 It isnot good to eat much honey;
So(T)to seek one’s own gloryis notglory.
28 (U)Whoeverhasno rule over his own spirit
Is likea city broken down, without walls.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8Lit.contendorbring a lawsuit
- Proverbs 25:10the evil report concerning you not pass away
- Proverbs 25:26ruined
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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