Proverbs 25 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 25 ▼
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1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers 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 God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover 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 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind! 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 Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. 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 Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure 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 Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among 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 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, 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 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? 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 When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray 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 Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation. 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 Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. 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 To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. 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 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer. 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 person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. 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 Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech 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 Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! 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 Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome. 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 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. 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 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame 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 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. 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 enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them 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 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, 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 surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! 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’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. 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 Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty. 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 If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a 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 It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself. 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 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. 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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