Similitudes and Instructions

25 These also are (A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

It is the glory of God to (B)conceal a matter,
But the glory of (C)kings is to search out a matter.
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Take away the [a](D)impurities from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the (E)smith;
Take away the (F)wicked before the king,
And his (G)throne will be established in righteousness.
Do not boast in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the same place [b]as great people;
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.

Do not go out (I)hastily to [c]argue your case;
[d]Otherwise, what will you do in [e]the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
[f](J)Argue your case with your neighbor,
And (K)do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or one who hears it will put you to shame,
And the evil report about you will not [g]pass away.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,
Is a (L)word spoken at [h]the proper time.
12 Like [i]an (M)earring of gold and a (N)jewelry piece of (O)fine gold,
Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a (P)listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the [j]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 person who boasts [k]of his gifts falsely.
15 Through [l](T)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks bone.
16 Have you (U)found honey? Eat only [m]what you need,
So that you do not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become [n]weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club, a (V)sword, and a sharp (W)arrow
Is a person who gives (X)false testimony against his neighbor.
19 Like a bad tooth and [o]an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a (Y)treacherous person in time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on [p]soda,
Is one who sings songs to [q]a troubled heart.
21 (Z)If [r]your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will [s]heap burning coals on his head,
And (AA)the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings rain,
And a [t](AB)gossiping tongue brings an angry face.
24 It is (AC)better to live on a corner of the roof,
Than [u]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 [v]polluted well,
So is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to (AF)search out [w]one’s own glory.
28 Like a (AG)city that is broken into and without walls
So is a person (AH)who has no self-control over his spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:4 Lit dross
  2. Proverbs 25:6 Lit of
  3. Proverbs 25:8 Lit contend
  4. Proverbs 25:8 Lit Lest
  5. Proverbs 25:8 Lit its
  6. Proverbs 25:9 Lit Contend
  7. Proverbs 25:10 Lit return
  8. Proverbs 25:11 Lit its time
  9. Proverbs 25:12 Or a nose ring
  10. Proverbs 25:13 Lit day
  11. Proverbs 25:14 Lit in a gift of falsehood
  12. Proverbs 25:15 Lit length of anger
  13. Proverbs 25:16 Lit your sufficiency
  14. Proverbs 25:17 Lit surfeited with
  15. Proverbs 25:19 Lit a slipping foot
  16. Proverbs 25:20 I.e., natron
  17. Proverbs 25:20 Lit an evil
  18. Proverbs 25:21 Lit one who hates you
  19. Proverbs 25:22 Lit snatch up
  20. Proverbs 25:23 Lit tongue of secrecy
  21. Proverbs 25:24 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
  22. Proverbs 25:26 Lit ruined
  23. Proverbs 25:27 Lit their

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