25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon,
which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:
25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.
25:3 As the heaven is high and the earth is deep
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
25:4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and material for the silversmith will emerge;
25:5 remove the wicked from before the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;
25:7 for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than to put you lower before a prince,
whom your eyes have seen.
25:8 Do not go out hastily to litigation,
or what will you do afterward
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
25:9 When you argue a case with your neighbor,
do not reveal the secret of another person,
25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame
and your infamy will never go away.
25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,
so is a word skillfully spoken.
25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.
25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
so is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
for he refreshes the heart of his masters.
25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain,
so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.
25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break a bone.
25:16 When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you,
lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.
25:17 Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house,
lest he become weary of you and hate you.
25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow,
so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.
25:19 Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint,
so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.
25:20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on soda,
so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
25:23 The north wind brings forth rain,
and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.
25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop
than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.
25:25 Like cold water to a weary person,
so is good news from a distant land.
25:26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,
so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.
25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.
25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without a wall,
so is a person who cannot control his temper.