Proverbs 25 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 25 ▼
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1 THESE are also profound proverbs of Solomon which the friends of Hezekiah king of Judah wrote. 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 keep secret a matter; but the glory of the king is 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 matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of the king 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 Purge dross from silver that it may come forth a pure vessel. 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 Let wicked men be driven from the presence of the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. 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 glorify 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, 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 be said to you, Come up higher, than that you should be put lower. In the presence of the ruler report what 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 go forth hastily to bring a suit, lest when you plead your cause, at the end your neighbor shall reproach 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 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and do not disclose the secret to another, 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 he who hears it reproach you and many people mock you. 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 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting 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 Like an earring of gold, and a precious sardius, so is the reproof of the wise men to a listening ear. 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 cold of snow in the time of harvest, which cools the air, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for 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. 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 clouds and wind without rain, so is the man who boasts of false gifts. 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 long forbearing, a ruler is persuaded; and a soft tongue breaks the 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 as much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled with it and 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 Do not visit your neighbor's house too frequently, lest he become weary of you and so 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 bears false witness against his neighbor is like an iron bar, 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 Like a sore tooth and a foot out of joint, such is the confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble. 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 As he who takes away a garment from his neighbor in cold weather, as one who drops sand on the string of a musical instrument, as he who afflicts a broken heart, as a moth on a garment, and as a boring-worm on a tree: such is the effect of sorrow on a man's 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 be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be 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 when you shall do these things for him, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, 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 Like the north wind which brings forth rain, so are an evil countenance and a backbiting 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 dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a quarrelsome wife and a house divided against itself. 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 a far country. 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 stopped fountain or a polluted spring is a righteous man when he falls down before the wicked. 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 It is not good to eat much honey, nor to search for high praises for oneself. 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 breached city that has no wall, so is a man who is impatient. 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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