Proverbs 25

1These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.● 2It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.● 3The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.● 4Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.● 5Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.● 6Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:● 7For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.● 8Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?● 9Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:● 10Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.● 11A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.● 12Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.● 13As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.● 14As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.● 15A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.● 16If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.● 17Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.● 18One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.● 19Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.● 20Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.● 21If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:● 22For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.● 23As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.● 24It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.● 25As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.● 26Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.● 27It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.● 28He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.●