Proverbs 25 CPDV

¹ These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.

² It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.

³ Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.

⁵ Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.

⁶ Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.

⁷ For it is better that it should be said to you, 'Ascend to here,' than that you should be humbled before the prince.

⁸ The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.

⁹ Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,

¹⁰ lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.

¹¹ Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

¹² Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.

¹³ Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.

¹⁴ A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.

¹⁵ By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

¹⁶ You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.

¹⁷ Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.

¹⁸ A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,

²⁰ and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

²² For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.

²³ The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.

²⁴ It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.

²⁵ Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.

²⁶ The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.

²⁷ Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.

²⁸ Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.