Proverbs 25 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
[2] It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,
but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
[3] As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
[4] Take away the dross from the silver,
and material comes out for the refiner.
[5] Take away the wicked from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
[6] Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
or claim a place among great men;
[7] for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
whom your eyes have seen.
[8] Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court.
What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
[9] Debate your case with your neighbor,
and don’t betray the confidence of another,
[10] lest one who hears it put you to shame,
and your bad reputation never depart. [11] A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
[12] As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
[13] As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
so is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
[14] As clouds and wind without rain,
so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
[15] By patience a ruler is persuaded.
A soft tongue breaks the bone.
[16] Have you found honey?
Eat as much as is sufficient for you,
lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
[17] Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
[18] A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
[19] Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
[20] As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
or vinegar on soda,
so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
[21] If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
[22] for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and Yahweh will reward you.
[23] The north wind produces rain;
so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
[24] It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
[25] Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
[26] Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,
so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
[27] It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
[28] Like a city that is broken down and without walls
is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
[2] It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,
but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
[3] As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
[4] Take away the dross from the silver,
and material comes out for the refiner.
[5] Take away the wicked from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
[6] Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
or claim a place among great men;
[7] for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
whom your eyes have seen.
[8] Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court.
What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
[9] Debate your case with your neighbor,
and don’t betray the confidence of another,
[10] lest one who hears it put you to shame,
and your bad reputation never depart. [11] A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
[12] As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
[13] As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
so is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
[14] As clouds and wind without rain,
so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
[15] By patience a ruler is persuaded.
A soft tongue breaks the bone.
[16] Have you found honey?
Eat as much as is sufficient for you,
lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
[17] Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
[18] A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
[19] Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
[20] As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
or vinegar on soda,
so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
[21] If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
[22] for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and Yahweh will reward you.
[23] The north wind produces rain;
so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
[24] It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
than to share a house with a contentious woman.
[25] Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
[26] Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,
so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
[27] It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
[28] Like a city that is broken down and without walls
is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
King James Version
Proverbs of Solomon
[1] These are also proverbs H4912 of Solomon, H8010 which the men H582 of Hezekiah H2396 king H4428 of Judah H3063 copied out. H6275 (HiphPerf)[2] It is the glory H3519 of God H430 to conceal H5641 (HiphInf) a thing: H1697
But the honour H3519 of kings H4428 is to search out H2713 (QalInf) a matter. H1697
[3] The heaven H8064 for height, H7312 and the earth H776 for depth, H6011
And the heart H3820 of kings H4428 is unsearchable.§ H2714
[4] Take away H1898 (QalInf) the dross H5509 from the silver, H3701
And there shall come forth H3318 (QalImpf) a vessel H3627 for the finer. H6884 (QalActPtc)
[5] Take away H1898 (QalInf) the wicked H7563 from before H6440 the king, H4428
And his throne H3678 shall be established H3559 (NiphImpf) in righteousness. H6664
[6] Put not forth H1921 (HithImpf) thyself§ in the presence H6440 of the king, H4428
And stand H5975 (QalImpf) not in the place H4725 of great H1419 men:
[7] For better H2896 it is that it be said H559 (QalInf) unto thee, Come up H5927 (QalImpv) hither;
Than that thou shouldest be put lower H8213 (HiphInf) in the presence H6440 of the prince H5081
Whom thine eyes H5869 have seen. H7200 (QalPerf)
[8] Go not forth H3318 (QalImpf) hastily H4118 to strive, H7378 (QalInf)
Lest thou know not what to do H6213 (QalImpf) in the end H319 thereof,
When thy neighbour H7453 hath put thee to shame. H3637 (HiphInf)
[9] Debate H7378 (QalImpv) thy cause H7379 with thy neighbour H7453 himself;
And discover H1540 (PielImpf) not a secret H5475 to another: H312§
[10] Lest he that heareth H8085 (QalActPtc) it put thee to shame, H2616 (PielImpf)
And thine infamy H1681 turn not away. H7725 (QalImpf)
[11] A word H1697 fitly H212 (Qere) spoken H1696 (QalPasPtc)§
Is like apples H8598 of gold H2091 in pictures H4906 of silver. H3701
[12] As an earring H5141 of gold, H2091 and an ornament H2481 of fine gold, H3800
So is a wise H2450 reprover H3198 (HiphPtc) upon an obedient H8085 (QalActPtc) ear. H241
[13] As the cold H6793 of snow H7950 in the time H3117 of harvest, H7105
So is a faithful H539 (NiphPtc) messenger H6735 to them that send H7971 (QalActPtc) him:
For he refresheth H7725 (HiphImpf) the soul H5315 of his masters. H113
[14] Whoso H376 boasteth H1984 (HithPtc) himself of a false H8267 gift H4991§
Is like clouds H5387 and wind H7307 without rain. H1653
[15] By long H753 forbearing H639 is a prince H7101 persuaded, H6601 (PualImpf)
And a soft H7390 tongue H3956 breaketh H7665 (QalImpf) the bone. H1634
[16] Hast thou found H4672 (QalPerf) honey? H1706 eat H398 (QalImpv) so much as is sufficient H1767 for thee,
Lest thou be filled H7646 (QalImpf) therewith, and vomit H6958 (HiphPerf) it.
[17] Withdraw H3365 (HiphImpv) thy foot H7272 from thy neighbour’s H7453 house; H1004
Lest he be weary H7646 (QalImpf) of thee,§ and so hate H8130 (QalPerf) thee.
[18] A man H376 that beareth H6030 (QalActPtc) false H8267 witness H5707 against his neighbour H7453
Is a maul, H4650 and a sword, H2719 and a sharp H8150 (QalActPtc) arrow. H2671
[19] Confidence H4009 in an unfaithful man H898 (QalActPtc) in time H3117 of trouble H6869
Is like a broken H7465 tooth, H8127 and a foot H7272 out of joint. H4154
[20] As he that taketh away H5710 (HiphPtc) a garment H899 in cold H7135 weather, H3117 and as vinegar H2558 upon nitre, H5427
So is he that singeth H7891 (QalActPtc) songs H7892 to an heavy H7451 heart. H3820
[21] If thine enemy H8130 (QalActPtc) be hungry, H7457 give him bread H3899 to eat; H398 (HiphImpv)
And if he be thirsty, H6771 give him water H4325 to drink: H8248 (HiphImpv)
[22] For thou shalt heap H2846 (QalActPtc) coals of fire H1513 upon his head, H7218
And the Lord H3068 shall reward H7999 (PielImpf) thee.
[23] The north H6828 wind H7307 driveth away H2342 (PoleImpf) rain: H1653
So doth an angry H2194 (NiphPtc) countenance H6440 a backbiting H5643 tongue. H3956
[24] It is better H2896 to dwell H3427 (QalInf) in the corner H6438 of the housetop, H1406
Than with a brawling H4079 (Qere) woman H802 and in a wide H2267 house. H1004
[25] As cold H7119 waters H4325 to a thirsty H5889 soul, H5315
So is good H2896 news H8052 from a far H4801 country. H776
[26] A righteous H6662 man falling down H4131 (QalPtc) before H6440 the wicked H7563
Is as a troubled H7515 (NiphPtc) fountain, H4599 and a corrupt H7843 (HophPtc) spring. H4726
[27] It is not good H2896 to eat H398 (QalInf) much H7235 (HiphInf) honey: H1706
So for men to search H2714 their own glory H3519 is not glory. H3519
[28] He H376 that hath no rule H4623 over his own spirit H7307
Is like a city H5892 that is broken down, H6555 (QalPasPtc) and without walls. H2346
Footnotes
- § 25:3 Heb. there is no searching
- § 25:6 Heb. set not out thy glory
- § 25:9 Or, discover not the secret of another
- § 25:11 Heb. spoken upon his wheels
- § 25:14 Heb. in a gift of falsehood
- § 25:17 Heb. full of thee
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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