Proverbs 25 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 25 ▼
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BSB
Berean Standard Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
KJV
King James Version
NIV
New International Version
NLT
New Living Translation
1 These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out. It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great.
7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace. Just because you’ve seen something,
8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame? do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence, Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence, When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret.
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away. lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given. Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.
16 If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up. If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit. Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you. Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you. Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.
18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22 For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.
23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks. The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look. As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife. It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked. Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory. It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
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