Similitudes, Instructions
25
These also are Aproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
It is the glory of God to Aconceal a matter,
But the glory of Bkings 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 Adross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the Bsmith;
Take away the Awicked before the king,
And his Bthrone will be established in righteousness.
Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;
For Ait 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 Ahastily to 1argue your case;
2Otherwise, what will you do in 3the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
1AArgue your case with your neighbor,
And Bdo not reveal the secret of another,
10  Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not 1pass away.
11  Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a Aword spoken in 1right circumstances.
12  Like 1an Aearring of gold and an Bornament of Cfine gold
Is a wise reprover to a Dlistening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the 1time of harvest
Is a Afaithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14  Like Aclouds and Bwind without rain
Is a man who boasts 1of his gifts falsely.
15 By 1Aforbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you Afound honey? Eat only 1what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become 1weary of you and hate you.
18  Like a club and a Asword and a sharp Barrow
Is a man who bears Cfalse witness against his neighbor.
19  Like a bad tooth and 1an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a Afaithless man in time of trouble.
20  Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on 1soda,
Is he who sings songs to 2a troubled heart.
21  AIf 1your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will 1heap burning coals on his head,
And Athe Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And a 1Abackbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24 It is Abetter to live in a corner of the roof
Than 1in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25  Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is Agood news from a distant land.
26  Like a Atrampled spring and a 1polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to Asearch out 1one’s own glory.
28  Like a Acity that is broken into and without walls
Is a man Bwho has no control over his spirit.
A 25:1 Prov 1:1 A 25:2 Deut 29:29; Rom 11:33 B 25:2 Ezra 6:1 A 25:4 Prov 26:23; Ezek 22:18 B 25:4 Mal 3:2, 3 A 25:5 Prov 20:8 B 25:5 Prov 16:12 A 25:7 Luke 14:7-11 A 25:8 Prov 17:14; Matt 5:25 1 25:8 Lit contend 2 25:8 Lit Lest 3 25:8 Lit its 1 25:9 Lit Contend A 25:9 Matt 18:15 B 25:9 Prov 11:13 1 25:10 Lit return A 25:11 Prov 15:23 1 25:11 Lit its 1 25:12 Or a nose ring A 25:12 Ex 32:2; 35:22; Ezek 16:12 B 25:12 2 Sam 1:24 C 25:12 Job 28:17 D 25:12 Prov 15:31; 20:12 1 25:13 Lit day A 25:13 Prov 13:17 A 25:14 Jude 12 B 25:14 Jer 5:13; Mic 2:11 1 25:14 Lit in a gift of falsehood 1 25:15 Lit length of anger A 25:15 Gen 32:4; 1 Sam 25:24; Eccl 10:4 A 25:16 Judg 14:8; 1 Sam 14:25 1 25:16 Lit your sufficiency 1 25:17 Lit surfeited with A 25:18 Ps 57:4; Prov 12:18 B 25:18 Jer 9:8 C 25:18 Ex 20:16; Prov 24:28 1 25:19 Lit a slipping foot A 25:19 Job 6:15; Is 36:6 1 25:20 I.e. natron 2 25:20 Lit an evil A 25:21 Ex 23:4, 5; 2 Kin 6:22; 2 Chr 28:15; Matt 5:44; Rom 12:20 1 25:21 Lit one who hates you 1 25:22 Lit snatch up A 25:22 2 Sam 16:12; Matt 6:4, 6 1 25:23 Lit tongue of secrecy A 25:23 Ps 101:5 A 25:24 Prov 21:9 1 25:24 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association A 25:25 Prov 15:30 A 25:26 Ezek 32:2; 34:18, 19 1 25:26 Lit ruined A 25:27 Prov 27:2; Luke 14:11 1 25:27 Lit their A 25:28 Prov 16:32 B 25:28 2 Chr 32:5; Neh 1:3