Proverbs 25

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¹Also these ben the Parablis of Salomon, whiche the men of Ezechie, kyng of Juda, translatiden.

²The glorie of God is to hele a word; and the glorie of kyngis is to seke out a word.

³Heuene aboue, and the erthe bynethe, and the herte of kyngis is vnserchable.

⁴Do thou a wei rust fro siluer, and a ful cleene vessel schal go out.

⁵Do thou awei vnpite fro the cheer of the kyng, and his trone schal be maad stidfast bi riytfulnesse.

⁶Appere thou not gloriouse bifore the kyng, and stonde thou not in the place of grete men.

⁷For it is betere, that it be seid to thee, Stie thou hidur, than that thou be maad low bifore the prince.

⁸Brynge thou not forth soone tho thingis in strijf, whiche thin iyen sien; lest aftirward thou maist not amende, whanne thou hast maad thi frend vnhonest.

⁹Trete thi cause with thi frend, and schewe thou not priuyte to a straunge man;

¹⁰lest perauenture he haue ioye of thi fal, whanne he hath herde, and ceesse not to do schenschipe to thee. Grace and frenschip delyueren, whiche kepe thou to thee, that thou be not maad repreuable.

¹¹A goldun pomel in beddis of siluer is he, that spekith a word in his time.

¹²A goldun eere ryng, and a schinynge peerle is he, that repreueth a wijs man, and an eere obeiynge.

¹³As the coold of snow in the dai of heruest, so a feithful messanger to hym that sente `thilke messanger, makith his soule to haue reste.

¹⁴A cloude and wind, and reyn not suynge, is a gloriouse man, and not fillynge biheestis.

¹⁵A prince schal be maad soft bi pacience; and a soft tunge schal breke hardnesse.

¹⁶Thou hast founde hony, ete thou that that suffisith to thee; lest perauenture thou be fillid, and brake it out.

¹⁷Withdrawe thi foot fro the hous of thi neiybore; lest sum tyme he be fillid, and hate thee.

¹⁸A dart, and a swerd, and a scharp arowe, a man that spekith fals witnessing ayens his neiybore.

¹⁹A rotun tooth, and a feynt foot is he, that hopith on an vnfeithful man in the dai of angwisch,

²⁰and leesith his mentil in the dai of coold. Vynegre in a vessel of salt is he, that singith songis to the worste herte. As a mouyte noieth a cloth, and a worm noieth a tree, so the sorewe of a man noieth the herte.

²¹If thin enemy hungrith, feede thou him; if he thirstith, yyue thou watir to hym to drinke;

²²for thou schalt gadere togidere coolis on his heed; and the Lord schal yelde to thee.

²³The north wind scatereth reynes; and a sorewful face distrieth a tunge bacbitinge.

²⁴It is betere to sitte in the corner of an hous without roof, than with a womman ful of chidyng, and in a comyn hous.

²⁵Coold watir to a thirsti man; and a good messanger fro a fer lond.

²⁶A welle disturblid with foot, and a veyne brokun, a iust man fallinge bifore a wickid man.

²⁷As it is not good to hym that etith myche hony; so he that is a serchere of maieste, schal be put doun fro glorie.

²⁸As a citee opyn, and with out cumpas of wallis; so is a man that mai not refreyne his spirit in speking.

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.