Proverbs 25 · משלי

These also are proverbs of Shelomo, which the men of Ḥizqiyya, king of Yehuda 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 a vessel emerges for the refiner.

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

Do not give thyself airs in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: for better it is that it be said to thee.

Come up here; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.

Do not proceed hastily to litigation, lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, when thy neighbour has put thee to shame.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour: and do not reveal the secret of another:

lest he who hears thee betray thee; and lest thy calumny be carried back.

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

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

Like the cold snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him: for he refreshes the soul of his master.

One who boasts of gifts that he does not give is like clouds and wind without rain.

By long forbearing is a ruler won over, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

Hast thou found honey? eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be sated with it, and vomit it up.

Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

A man who bears false witness against his neighbour is like 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.

Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, and like acid upon nitre, is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

If thy 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 brings in the rain: so does an angry countenance, a back biting tongue.

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

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

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is like a muddied fountain, and a polluted spring.

It is not good to eat much honey: so it is honour to set bounds to honour.

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