1 Analogies of Wisdom These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2 ¶It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Asthe heavens for height and the earth for depth,So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,And there comes out a vessel for the smith;
5 Take away the wicked before the king,And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not promote your majesty in the presence of the king,And in the place of great men do not stand;
7 For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of a noble,Whom your eyes have seen.
8 ¶Do not go out hastily to pleadyour case;Lest, what will you do in 25:8Lit its the end,When your neighbor humiliates you?
9 Plead your case with your neighbor,And do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Lest he who hearsitbring disgrace upon you,And the bad report about you will not turn away.
11 ¶Likeapples of gold in settings of silverIs a word spoken in 25:11Lit its right circumstances.
12 Like 25:12Or a nose ring an earring of gold and an ornament of fine goldIs a wise reprover to a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the 25:13Lit day time of harvestIs a faithful envoy to those who send him,For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Likeclouds and wind without rainIs a man who boasts 25:14Lit in a gift of falsehood of his gifts falsely.
15 When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded,And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eatonlyenough for you,Lest you have more than your fill and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,Lest he have more than his fill of you and hate you.
18 Likea club and a sword and a sharp arrowIs a man who bears 25:18Or lying witness, cf. Ex 20:16 false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like 25:19Lit a bad an aching tooth and a slipping footIs trust in a treacherous man in a day of distress.
20 Likeone who takes off a garment on a cold day,or likevinegar on 25:20Or natron soda,Is he who sings songs to 25:20Lit an evil an aching heart.
21 If 25:21 Lit one who hates you your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will 25:22Lit snatch up heap burning coals on his head,And Yahweh will repay you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,And a tongue of secrets, an indignant face.
24 It is better to live in a corner of the roofThan 25:24Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Likecold water to a weary soul,So is a good report from a distant land.
26 Likea muddied spring and a corrupted wellIs a righteous man shaking before the wicked.
27 To eat too much honey is not good,Nor is it glory to search out 25:27Lit their one’s own glory.
28 Likea city that is broken intoandwithout a wallIs a man without restraint over his spirit.