Proverbs 25

¹These also are the parables of Salomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda wrote out.

²It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search the speech.

³The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unscrutable.

⁴Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:

⁵Take away impiety from the king's countenance, and his throne shall be established with justice.

⁶Appear not glorious before the king, and in the place of great men stand not.

⁷For it is better that it be said to thee: Come up hither, than that thou be humbled before the Prince.

⁸The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not quickly in a brawl: lest afterward thou canst not amend it, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.

⁹Treat thy cause with thy friend, and reveal not a secret to a stranger:

¹⁰lest perhaps he insult against thee when he heareth, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver : which keep to thyself, lest thou become reproachful.

¹¹Apples of gold in silver beds, he that speaketh a word in his time.

¹²A golden earlet, and a shining precious stone, he that rebuketh a wiseman, and an obedient ear.

¹³As the cold of snow in the day of harvest, so a faithful legate to him that sent him, maketh his soul to rest.

¹⁴Clouds, and wind, and no rain following, a glorious man, and not accomplishing his promises.

¹⁵By patience the Prince shall be pacified, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

¹⁶Thou hast found honey, eat that which sufficeth thee, lest perhaps being filled thou vomit it up.

¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest sometime having his fill he hate thee.

¹⁸A dart, and sword, and a sharp arrow, a man that speaketh false testimony against his neighbour.

¹⁹A rotten tooth, and weary foot, he that hopeth upon the unfaithful in the day of distress,

²⁰and that loseth his cloak in the day of cold. Vinegar in nitre, he that singeth songs to a naughty heart. As a moth the garment, and a worm the wood: so the sadness of a man hurteth the heart.

²¹If thine enemy shall hunger, give him meat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:

²²for thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and our Lord will reward thee.

²³The north-wind dissipateth rains, & a sad look the tongue that detracteth.

²⁴It is better to sit in a corner of the house top, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.

²⁵Cold water to a thirsty soul, and good tidings from a far country.

²⁶A fountain troubled with the foot, and a vein corrupted, the just falling before the impious.

²⁷As he that eateth much honey, it is not good for him: so he that is a searcher of the majesty, shall be oppressed of the glory.

²⁸As a city being open and without compass of walls, so a man that cannot repress his spirit in speaking.