Proverbs 25

¹THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.

²The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.

³The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.

⁴Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.

⁵Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.

⁶Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.

⁷For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.

⁸Goe not foorth hastily to strife, least thou know not what to doe in the ende thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

⁹Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,

¹⁰Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.

¹¹A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.

¹²He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.

¹³As the colde of the snowe in the time of haruest, so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soule of his masters.

¹⁴A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.

¹⁵A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.

¹⁶If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.

¹⁷Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

¹⁸A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.

¹⁹Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.

²⁰Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.

²¹If hee that hateth thee be hungry, giue him bread to eate, and if he be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.

²²For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.

²³As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.

²⁴It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.

²⁵As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.

²⁶A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.

²⁷It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.

²⁸A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.

Proverbs 25

¹These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

³The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

⁵Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

⁷For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

¹⁰Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

¹⁴Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

¹⁵By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

¹⁶Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

¹⁸A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

²¹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

²³The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

²⁵As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

²⁶A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

²⁸He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.