Proverbs 25:1--26:28

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah

25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon,

which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:

25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.

25:3 As the heaven is high and the earth is deep

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

25:4 Remove the dross from the silver,

and material for the silversmith will emerge;

25:5 remove the wicked from before the king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,

and do not stand in the place of great men;

25:7 for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”

than to put you lower before a prince,

whom your eyes have seen.

25:8 Do not go out hastily to litigation,

or what will you do afterward

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

25:9 When you argue a case with your neighbor,

do not reveal the secret of another person,

25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame

and your infamy will never go away.

25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,

so is a word skillfully spoken.

25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.

25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest,

so is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

for he refreshes the heart of his masters.

25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain,

so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.

25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a soft tongue can break a bone.

25:16 When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you,

lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.

25:17 Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house,

lest he become weary of you and hate you.

25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow,

so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

25:19 Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint,

so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.

25:20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on soda,

so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

25:23 The north wind brings forth rain,

and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.

25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop

than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

25:25 Like cold water to a weary person,

so is good news from a distant land.

25:26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,

so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey,

nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.

25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without a wall,

so is a person who cannot control his temper.

26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

26:2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow,

so a curse without cause does not come to rest.

26:3 A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the backs of fools!

26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

lest you yourself also be like him.

26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own estimation.

26:6 Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence,

so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

26:7 Like legs that hang limp from the lame,

so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling,

so is giving honor to a fool.

26:9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard,

so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random,

so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.

26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

26:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion in the streets!”

26:14 Like a door that turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

26:15 The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation

than seven people who respond with good sense.

26:17 Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears,

so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.

26:18 Like a madman who shoots

firebrands and deadly arrows,

26:19 so is a person who deceives his neighbor,

and says, “Was I not only joking?”

26:20 Where there is no wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

26:21 Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

26:22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels;

they go down into a person’s innermost being.

26:23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

26:24 The one who hates others disguises it with his lips,

but he stores up deceit within him.

26:25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,

for there are seven abominations within him.

26:26 Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit,

his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.

26:27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it;

the one who rolls a stone – it will come back on him.

26:28 A lying tongue hates those crushed by it,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.