Proverbs 25

Hezekiah’s Collection

1 These too are proverbs of Solomon,  * 25:1 Pr 1:1

which the men of King Hezekiah  * 25:1 2Kg 18–20 of Judah copied.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter  * 25:2 Dt 29:29; Rm 11:33

and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.

3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

4 Remove impurities from silver,  * 25:4 Ezk 22:18; Mal 3:2–3

and material will be produced  * 25:4 Lit will come out; Ex 32:24 for a silversmith.  * 25:4 Or and a vessel will be produced by a silversmith,* 25:4 2Tm 2:21

5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,  * 25:5 Pr 20:8,26

and his throne will be established in righteousness.  * 25:5 Pr 16:12

6 Don’t boast about yourself before the king,

and don’t stand in the place of the great;

7 for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here! "

than to demote you in plain view of a noble.  * 25:7 Lit you before a noble whom your eyes see,* 25:7 Lk 14:7–11

8 Don’t take a matter to court hastily.  * 25:8 Pr 17:14; Mt 5:25; 1Co 6:7

Otherwise, what will you do afterward

if your opponent  * 25:8 Or neighbor, also in v. 9 humiliates you?

9 Make your case with your opponent

without revealing another’s secret;  * 25:9 Pr 17:9; Mt 18:15

10 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you,

and you’ll never live it down.  * 25:10 Lit and your evil report will not turn back

11 A word spoken at the right time

is like gold apples in silver settings.  * 25:11 Pr 8:10; 15:23; 16:16

12 A wise correction to a receptive ear  * 25:12 Pr 15:31

is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

13 To those who send him, a trustworthy envoy

is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day;

he refreshes the life of his masters.  * 25:13 Pr 13:17; 16:24; 25:25

14 The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist

is like clouds and wind without rain.  * 25:14 Jd 12

15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.  * 25:15 Pr 15:1; 16:14,32; Ec 10:4

16 If you find honey,  * 25:16 Jdg 14:8; 1Sm 14:25 eat only what you need;

otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.  * 25:16 Pr 25:27

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house;

otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.

18 A person giving false testimony against his neighbor  * 25:18 Ex 20:16; Pr 24:28

is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.  * 25:18 Ps 57:4; Pr 12:18

19 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time

is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.  * 25:19 2Kg 18:21

20 Singing songs to a troubled heart

is like taking off clothing on a cold day

or like pouring vinegar on soda.  * 25:20 Lit natron,or sodium carbonate,* 25:20 Rm 12:15

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,  * 25:21 Ex 23:4–5; 2Kg 6:22; 2Ch 28:15; Mt 5:44; Rm 12:20

22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.  * 25:22 Mt 6:4

23 The north wind produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 Better to live on the corner of a roof

than to share a house with a nagging wife.  * 25:24 Pr 15:17; 17:1; 21:9,19

25 Good news from a distant land

is like cold water to a parched throat.  * 25:25 Or a weary person,* 25:25 Pr 15:30

26 A righteous person who yields to the wicked  * 25:26 Dt 13:6–8; Gl 2:4–5

is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.  * 25:26 Ezk 32:2; 34:18–19

27 It is not good to eat too much honey  * 25:27 Pr 25:16

or to seek glory after glory.  * 25:27 Lit seek their glory, glory,* 25:27 Pr 27:2

28 A person who does not control his temper  * 25:28 Pr 16:32; 29:11

is like a city whose wall is broken down.  * 25:28 Neh 1:3