Proverbs 25 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 25 ▼
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1 These also are Solomon's proverbs that were copied by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah. 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 the glory of God to hide things but the glory of kings to investigate them. 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 [Like] the high heavens and the deep earth, so the mind of kings is 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 the impurities out of silver, and a vessel is ready for the silversmith to mold. 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 a wicked person away from the presence of a king, and justice will make his throne secure. 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 brag about yourself in front of a king or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people, 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 because it is better to be told, |Come up here,| than to be put down in front of a prince whom your eyes have seen. 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 Do not be in a hurry to go to court. What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you? 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 Present your argument to your neighbor, but do not reveal another person's secret. 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 Otherwise, when he hears about it, he will humiliate you, and his evil report about you will never disappear. 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 [Like] golden apples in silver settings, [so] is a word spoken at the right time. 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 [Like] a gold ring and a fine gold ornament, [so] is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens. 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 Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day, [so] is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him: He refreshes 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. 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 [Like] a dense fog or a dust storm, [so] is a person who brags about a gift that he does not give. 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 With patience you can persuade a ruler, and a soft tongue can break bones. 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 When you find honey, eat only as much as you need. Otherwise, you will have too much and vomit. 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 Do not set foot in your neighbor's house too often. Otherwise, he will see too much of you and 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 [Like] a club and a sword and a sharp arrow, [so] is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor. 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 [Like] a broken tooth and a lame foot, [so] is confidence in an unfaithful person in a [time of] crisis. 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 [Like] taking off a coat on a cold day or pouring vinegar on baking soda, so is singing songs to one who has an evil 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, give him some food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him some 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 [In this way] you will make him feel guilty and ashamed, and the LORD will reward 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 [As] the north wind brings rain, so a whispering tongue brings angry looks. 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 Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling woman. 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 is good news from far away. 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 [Like] a muddied spring and a polluted well, [so] is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person. 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 Eating too much honey is not good, and searching for honor is not honorable. 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 [Like] a city broken into [and] left without a wall, [so] is a person who lacks self-control. 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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