Proverbs 25 - American Standard Version 2015

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

² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing;\par\tab But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

³ As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,\par\tab So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver,\par\tab And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:

⁵ Take away the wicked {\i from} before the king,\par\tab And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king,\par\tab And stand not in the place of great men:

⁷ For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither,\par\tab Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince,\par\tab Whom thine eyes have seen.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive,\par\tab Lest {\i thou know not} what to do in the end thereof,\par\tab When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbor {\i himself},\par\tab And disclose not the secret of another;

¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it revile thee,\par\tab And thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken\par\tab Is {\i like} apples of gold in network of silver.

¹² {\i As} an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,\par\tab {\i So is} a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,\par\tab {\i So is} a faithful messenger to them that send him;\par\tab For he refresheth the soul of his masters.

¹⁴ {\i As} clouds and wind without rain,\par\tab {\i So is} he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

¹⁵ By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded,\par\tab And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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

¹⁷ Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house,\par\tab Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

¹⁸ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor\par\tab Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble\par\tab Is {\i like} a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰ {\i As} one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, {\i and as} vinegar upon soda,\par\tab So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;\par\tab And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

²² For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head,\par\tab And Jehovah will reward thee.

²³ The north wind bringeth forth rain:\par\tab So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,\par\tab Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

²⁵ {\i As} cold waters to a thirsty soul,\par\tab So is good news from a far country.

²⁶ {\i As} a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring,\par\tab {\i So is} a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey:\par\tab So {\i for men} to search out their own glory is grievous.

²⁸ He whose spirit is without restraint\par\tab Is {\i like} a city that is broken down and without walls.\par