Proverbs 25 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 25 ▼
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1 Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: -- 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 The honour of God is to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter. 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 heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- are 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 dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth 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 the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne. 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 Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not. 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 better that he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than that he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine 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 Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush? 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 Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not, 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 the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back. 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 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, Is the word spoken at its fit times. 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 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, Is the wise reprover to an attentive 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 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, So is a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth. 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 Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, Is a man boasting himself in a false gift. 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-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone. 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 Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated with it, and hast vomited 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 thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated with thee, and have hated thee. 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 maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony. 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 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, Is the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity. 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 Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, Is as vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad 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 he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water. 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 coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee. 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 A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces. 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 sit on a corner of a roof, Than with a woman of contentions, and a house of company. 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 As cold waters for a weary soul, So is a good report 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 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, Is the righteous falling 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 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour. 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 city broken down without walls, Is a man without restraint over his spirit! 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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