Open English Translation PROV Chapter 25

25 There are also these other proverbs from Shelomoh that the men working for Yehudah’s King Hizkiyah copied:

2 It is God’s privilege to conceal a matter,

^ and the king’s privilege to try to discover a matter.

3 The skies are high and the earth goes deep,

→ and the motives of kings are unable to be predicted.

4 Remove the dross from silver,

→ and then a container comes from the silversmith’s hands.

5 Remove the wicked person from the king’s presence,

→ and then his rule will be established as being honest and fair.

6 Don’t promote yourself in front of a king,

≈ and don’t claim a place among the well-known people,[ref]

7 because it’s better if they tell you, “Come up here,”

than to be placed lower right in front of a prince as you look at him.

8 Don’t be in a rush to take someone to court.

→ What would you do at the end, if your neighbour put you to shame?

9 Sort out your case with your neighbour,

without revealing other people’s secrets,

10 in case someone hears you and puts you to shame

and your bad reputation never gets repaired.

11 Good advice given at the right time

is like gold apples set in a silver frame.

12 A wise rebuke to a listening ear

is like a gold earring and a fine-gold ornament.

13 To those who send him, a faithful messenger

is like cool snow when doing a day’s hard work,

and it refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 A person who boasts about a gift that never comes

is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 A ruler can be persuaded by being patient,

≈ and a soft tongue can break a bone.

16 When you find honey, eat just what you need,

otherwise you might vomit if you’ve had too much.

17 Don’t set foot in your neighbour’s house too often,

in case they get fed up with you and end up hating you.

18 A man who gives a false testimony against his neighbour,

is like a club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19 Having confidence in someone who acts treacherously in a time of trouble,

is like having a broken tooth, or having your foot slip.

20 Taking off your coat on a cold day,

is like pouring vinegar on baking soda

or singing songs to someone who’s feeling sad.

21 Give your enemy food to eat if they’re hungry,

≈ and water to drink if they’re thirsty,

22 because you’re heaping burning coals on their head,

and Yahweh will be the one to repay you.

23 The northerly wind brings rain with it,

and a gossiping tongue brings indignant looks.

24 If better to live in the corner of an attic,

than to live inside the house with a contentious wife.

25 Good news from a distant country,

is like cool water for a tired person.

26 A godly person giving in to someone wicked,

is like a spring that gets muddied, or a well that gets ruined.

27 It isn’t good to eat too much honey,

and nor is trying to make yourself look good.

28 A person who has no self-control,

is like a city where the walls have been broken down.