Proverbs 25
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNET Bible
1These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied. 1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.
3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated. 3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4Remove impurities from silver, and a vessel will be produced for a silversmith. 4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge;
5Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. 5remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6Don't brag about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great; 6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!" than to demote you in plain view of a noble. 7for 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.
8Don't take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterward if your opponent humiliates you? 8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9Make your case with your opponent without revealing another's secret; 9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person,
10otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you'll never live it down. 10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away.
11A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray. 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.
12A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold. 12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.
13To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters. 13Like 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.
14The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain. 14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.
15A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.
16If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit. 16When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.
17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house; otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you. 17Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.
19Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot. 19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.
20Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day or like pouring vinegar on soda. 20Like 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.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. 22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.
24Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. 24It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.
25Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat. 25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land.
26A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well. 26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.
27It is not good to eat too much honey or to seek glory after glory. 27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.
28A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down. 28Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 24
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