Proverbs 25

¹These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.

²The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.

²The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.

³Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.

⁴Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.

⁵Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.

⁶Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;

⁷for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.

⁷for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.

⁸Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.

⁸Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.

⁹Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;

⁹Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;

¹⁰lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.

¹⁰lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.

¹¹[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.

¹²In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.

¹³As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.

¹⁴As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.

¹⁵In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.

¹⁵In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.

¹⁶Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.

¹⁶Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.

¹⁷Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.

¹⁷Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.

¹⁸[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.

¹⁹The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.

²⁰As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.

²¹If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;

²¹If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;

²²for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.

²²for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.

²³The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.

²⁴[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.

²⁵As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.

²⁶As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.

²⁷[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.

²⁷[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.

²⁸As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.

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Septuagint (Brenton, 1851)

Septuagint (LXX2012)