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Proverbs

Offers wisdom and advice on how to live a good and meaningful life.

Chapter 25

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1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

*These are more sayings by Solomon, copied by the men for Hezekiah, king of Judah.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

*God's greatness lies in hiding things, but a king's respect comes from figuring things out.

3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

*Heaven is high, Earth is deep, and kings' hearts are hard to understand.

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

*Remove the impurities from the silver, and a better container will be created.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

*Remove the bad people near the king, then his rule will be just and strong.

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

*Don't try to be important in front of the king, and don't take the spot of prominent people.

7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

*It's better to be told to come closer than to be humiliated in front of the king your eyes have seen.

8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

*Don't rush into a fight without thinking, or you might not know how to act in the end, and your neighbor may embarrass you.

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

*Talk to your neighbor about the issue directly, and don't reveal their secrets to others.

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

*So that the person who hears it doesn't make you feel embarrassed, and your bad reputation doesn't improve.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

*A well-chosen word is like golden apples in silver frames.

12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

*Like a beautiful gold earring, a wise person who points out mistakes is valuable to someone who listens and follows well.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

*Like the cold snow during harvest time, a loyal messenger is to those who sent him. He refreshes his masters' souls.

14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

*Whoever brags about a fake gift is like clouds with no rain, just wind.

15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

*A patient prince is won over with gentle persuasion, and a soft-spoken person can make even strong things bend.

16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

*Have you found honey? Eat only what you need; don't eat too much or you might throw up.

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

*Move your foot away from your neighbor's home; otherwise, they may get tired of you and dislike you.

18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

*A person who lies about their neighbor is like a brutal club, a weapon, and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

*Believing in a dishonest man during hard times is as useless as a damaged tooth or a dislocated foot.

20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

*Just like taking away a warm blanket in the cold or mixing vinegar with nitre, singing songs to someone with a heavy heart is not helpful.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

*If your enemy is hungry, give them food to eat; and if they're thirsty, give them water to drink.

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

*So that you can pile hot coal on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

*The north wind removes rain, just like an upset face removes a gossipy mouth.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

*It's better to live in a small space on the roof than with a quarrelsome woman in a big house.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

*Good news from a distant place feels as refreshing as cool water to someone really thirsty.

26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

*A good person bowing to a bad one is like a disturbed water source and a rotten well.

27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

*Eating too much honey is bad; similarly, seeking personal glory isn't truly glorious.

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

*Someone with no control over their emotions is like a destroyed city with no defenses.

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