Proverbs 25 - ESV Bible - These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men...

1 These also are ¹proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

2 It is the glory of God to ²conceal things, but the glory of kings is to ³search things out.

3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is ⁴unsearchable.

4 Take away ⁵the dross from the silver, and ⁶the smith has material for a vessel;

5 take away ⁷the wicked from the presence of the king, and his ⁸throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great,

7 for ⁹it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.What your eyes have seen

8 ¹⁰do not hastily bring into court, for^a what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 ¹¹Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret,

10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.

11 ¹²A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

12 Like ¹³a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to ¹⁴a listening ear.

13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is ¹⁵a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 Like ¹⁶clouds and wind without rain is a man who ¹⁷boasts of a gift he does not give.

15 With ¹⁸patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

16 If you have ¹⁹found honey, eat ²⁰only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

18 A man who ²¹bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or ²²a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

20 Whoever ²³sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.

21 ²⁴If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22 for you will heap ²⁵burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 ²⁶It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to ²⁷a thirsty soul, so is ²⁸good news from a far country.

26 Like ²⁹a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27 It is ³⁰not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to ³¹seek one's own glory.^b

28 A man ³²without self-control is like ³³a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 25 ESV