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Proverbs 25

¹These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezeki'ah king of Judah copied.

²It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

³As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel;

⁵take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great;

⁷for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince. What your eyes have seen

⁸do not hastily bring into court; for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not disclose another's secret;

¹⁰lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.

¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

¹²Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

¹⁵With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

¹⁶If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you be sated with it and vomit it.

¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

¹⁸A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

²⁰He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on a wound.

²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

²²for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

²³The north wind brings forth rain; and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

²⁴It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey, so be sparing of complimentary words.

²⁸A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 25 (RSV)

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Proverbs

Chapter 25

25 of 31