Proverbs 25 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 25 ▼
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1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred. These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech. 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 matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice. take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great. Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince. 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 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
8 The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend. do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider, Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,
10 lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach. lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13 Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest. 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. 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.
14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow. Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness. With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it. If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you. Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot, Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the 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. 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.
21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. 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 your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you. for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue. The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house. It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land. Like cold water 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.
26 The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring. Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by 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 too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28 Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
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