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Proverbs 25

These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honour of kings is to search a matter out. The heaven for height, the earth for depth, and the heart of kings are unsearchable. Remove the impurities from the silver, and a vessel will come out for the

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Hezekiah's men copied these

These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honour of kings is to search a matter out. The heaven for height, the earth for depth, and the heart of kings are unsearchable. Remove the impurities from the silver, and a vessel will come out for the refiner. Take the wicked away from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Don't promote yourself before the king or stand in the place of great men. It is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen. Don't rush into a dispute, or what will you do in the end when your neighbour puts you to shame? Debate your cause with your neighbour himself, and don't reveal another person's secret, or whoever hears it may put you to shame and your reputation won't recover. A word spoken at the right time is like apples of gold in settings of silver. A wise rebuke to a listening ear is like a gold earring or an ornament of fine gold. A faithful messenger is like the cold of snow at harvest time to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. Whoever boasts about a gift he never gives is like clouds and wind without rain.

These are proverbs of Solomon too, that the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It's the glory of God to hide a thing, but the honour of kings to search a thing out. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings — there's no searching them out. Take away the dross from the silver, and a vessel will come out for the refiner. Take away the wicked from in front of the king, and his throne will be set up in righteousness. Don't put yourself forward in front of the king, and don't stand in the place of great men. Because it's better that he says to you, Come up here, than that you should be brought lower in front of the leader your eyes have seen. Don't rush out to argue, or what will you do at the end of it, when your neighbour has put you to shame? Argue your case with your neighbour himself, and don't give away another's secret — or the one who hears it will shame you, and your bad name won't go away. A word spoken in its right time is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, that's a wise one who tells off an ear that listens. Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, that's what a faithful messenger is to the ones who send him. Because he brings back the soul of his masters. Whoever boasts of a gift he doesn't give is like clouds and wind with no rain.

These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

1

These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

Plain English

These are proverbs of Solomon too, that the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

King James Version, 1611

These are also 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 honour of kings is to search a matter out.

Plain English

It's the glory of God to hide a thing, but the honour of kings to search a thing out.

King James Version, 1611

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3

The heaven for height, the earth for depth, and the heart of kings are unsearchable.

Plain English

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings — there's no searching them out.

King James Version, 1611

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4

Remove the impurities from the silver, and a vessel will come out for the refiner.

Plain English

Take away the dross from the silver, and a vessel will come out for the refiner.

King James Version, 1611

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5

Take the wicked away from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Plain English

Take away the wicked from in front of the king, and his throne will be set up in righteousness.

King James Version, 1611

Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6

Don't promote yourself before the king or stand in the place of great men.

Plain English

Don't put yourself forward in front of the king, and don't stand in the place of great men.

King James Version, 1611

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7

It is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.

Plain English

Because it's better that he says to you, Come up here, than that you should be brought lower in front of the leader your eyes have seen.

King James Version, 1611

For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

8

Don't rush into a dispute, or what will you do in the end when your neighbour puts you to shame?

Plain English

Don't rush out to argue, or what will you do at the end of it, when your neighbour has put you to shame?

King James Version, 1611

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9

Debate your cause with your neighbour himself, and don't reveal another person's secret,

Plain English

Argue your case with your neighbour himself, and don't give away another's secret —

King James Version, 1611

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10

or whoever hears it may put you to shame and your reputation won't recover.

Plain English

or the one who hears it will shame you, and your bad name won't go away.

King James Version, 1611

Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11

A word spoken at the right time is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Plain English

A word spoken in its right time is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

King James Version, 1611

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12

A wise rebuke to a listening ear is like a gold earring or an ornament of fine gold.

Plain English

Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, that's a wise one who tells off an ear that listens.

King James Version, 1611

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13

A faithful messenger is like the cold of snow at harvest time to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Plain English

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, that's what a faithful messenger is to the ones who send him. Because he brings back the soul of his masters.

King James Version, 1611

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14

Whoever boasts about a gift he never gives is like clouds and wind without rain.

Plain English

Whoever boasts of a gift he doesn't give is like clouds and wind with no rain.

King James Version, 1611

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Apples of gold

By patience a ruler is persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone. Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, or you'll fill yourself and vomit it up. Don't wear out your welcome at your neighbour's house, or he'll get sick of you and hate you. A man who bears false witness against his neighbour is a maul, a sword and a sharp arrow. Trusting an unfaithful man in a time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint. Like taking away a coat in cold weather, or pouring vinegar on soda, is singing songs to a heavy heart. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he's thirsty, give him water to drink. You'll heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. The north wind drives away rain, and an angry face drives away a backbiting tongue. Better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a wide house with a contentious woman. Good news from a far country is like cold water to a weary soul. A righteous man falling down before the wicked is like a troubled fountain and a corrupted spring. It isn't good to eat too much honey, and seeking your own glory isn't glory. A man who can't rule his own spirit is like a city broken down with no walls.

By being patient a leader is talked round, and a soft tongue breaks the bone. Have you found honey? Eat only what's enough for you, or you'll be filled with it and vomit it up. Set your foot in your neighbour's house rarely, or he'll get sick of you and hate you. A man who's a false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow. Trusting an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint. Like the one who takes off a garment in cold weather, and like vinegar on soda, that's what the one is who sings songs to a heavy heart. If the one against you is hungry, give him bread to eat. And if he's thirsty, give him water to drink. Because you'll heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will pay you back. The north wind drives away rain, and so does an angry face a tongue that speaks behind backs. It's better to live in a corner of the roof than with a fighting woman in a wide house. Like cold waters to a worn out soul, that's what good news is from a far country. A righteous man who falls down in front of the wicked is like a muddied spring and a spoiled well. It isn't good to eat plenty of honey. So for men to look for their own glory isn't glory. The one who's got no rule over his own spirit is like a town that's broken down and has no walls.

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

15

By patience a ruler is persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.

Plain English

By being patient a leader is talked round, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

King James Version, 1611

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16

Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, or you'll fill yourself and vomit it up.

Plain English

Have you found honey? Eat only what's enough for you, or you'll be filled with it and vomit it up.

King James Version, 1611

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17

Don't wear out your welcome at your neighbour's house, or he'll get sick of you and hate you.

Plain English

Set your foot in your neighbour's house rarely, or he'll get sick of you and hate you.

King James Version, 1611

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18

A man who bears false witness against his neighbour is a maul, a sword and a sharp arrow.

Plain English

A man who's a false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.

King James Version, 1611

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19

Trusting an unfaithful man in a time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint.

Plain English

Trusting an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint.

King James Version, 1611

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20

Like taking away a coat in cold weather, or pouring vinegar on soda, is singing songs to a heavy heart.

Plain English

Like the one who takes off a garment in cold weather, and like vinegar on soda, that's what the one is who sings songs to a heavy heart.

King James Version, 1611

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he's thirsty, give him water to drink.

Plain English

If the one against you is hungry, give him bread to eat. And if he's thirsty, give him water to drink.

King James Version, 1611

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22

You'll heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Plain English

Because you'll heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will pay you back.

King James Version, 1611

For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23

The north wind drives away rain, and an angry face drives away a backbiting tongue.

Plain English

The north wind drives away rain, and so does an angry face a tongue that speaks behind backs.

King James Version, 1611

The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24

Better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a wide house with a contentious woman.

Plain English

It's better to live in a corner of the roof than with a fighting woman in a wide house.

King James Version, 1611

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25

Good news from a far country is like cold water to a weary soul.

Plain English

Like cold waters to a worn out soul, that's what good news is from a far country.

King James Version, 1611

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is like a troubled fountain and a corrupted spring.

Plain English

A righteous man who falls down in front of the wicked is like a muddied spring and a spoiled well.

King James Version, 1611

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27

It isn't good to eat too much honey, and seeking your own glory isn't glory.

Plain English

It isn't good to eat plenty of honey. So for men to look for their own glory isn't glory.

King James Version, 1611

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28

A man who can't rule his own spirit is like a city broken down with no walls.

Plain English

The one who's got no rule over his own spirit is like a town that's broken down and has no walls.

King James Version, 1611

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.