Proverbs 25
1THESE are the detached instructions of Solomon which the friends of Hezekias king of Judea copied out:
2The glory of God obscureth a matter: but the glory of a king giveth a lustre to actions.
3Heaven is high and the earth is deep: and the heart of a king is unsearchable.
4Beat drossy silver, and all that is pure will be purified.
5Have the ungodly around a king slain and his throne will prosper in righteousness.
6Boast not in the presence of a king; nor range thyself in the places of princes:
7For it is better it should be said to thee, Come up hither, than that thou shouldst give place at the presence of a prince. Speak [only] of what thine eyes have actually seen.
8Enter not hastily into a quarrel: lest thou repent at the last when thy friend shall upbraid thee.
9In yielding shew no contempt,
10lest thy friend upbraid thee: in which case thy quarrel and enmity will not cease, but last till death. Favour and friendship give freedom. Keep these for thyself that thou mayst not be exposed to reproach. But keep thy ways with a placable temper.
11It is an apple of gold in a sardius bracelet, thus to speak a word [peaceably].
12A precious sardius is bound to an earring of gold; and a word of wisdom to an obedient ear.
13As the coming out of snow in harvest is grateful according to the degree of heat: so is a faithful messenger to them who send him: for he refresheth the souls of them who employ him.
14As winds and clouds and rain are conspicuous things; so is he who boasteth for a false gift.
15By patience kings have a prosperous journey: and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16Having found honey, eat just what is sufficient: lest being glutted thou vomit it up.
17Go seldom to the house of thy friend: lest he be cloyed with thee and hate thee.
18Sharp is a nail and a sword and an arrow: so is a man who beareth false witness against his friend.
19The way of a bad man and the foot of a transgressor shall be destroyed in an evil day.
20As vinegar is hurtful to a boil; so bodily disease giveth pain to the heart. As a moth in a garment and a worm in wood: so a man’s grief hurteth the heart.
21If thine enemy hunger feed him; if he be thirsty give him drink:
22for by doing this thou wilt use the means to melt him; and the Lord will reward thee with good.
23The north wind raiseth clouds: and an impudent countenance irritateth the tongue.
24It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a scolding wife in a wide house.
25As cold water is grateful to a thirsty soul; so is good news from a distant country.
26As if one should stop up a fountain and destroy an outlet of water: so is it disorderly for a righteous man to fall before the wicked.
27It is not good to eat too much honey: but we ought to honour glorious words.
28A man who doth anything without counsel is like a city which hath the foundations of walls laid, and is without walls.