Proverbs 25

¹These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

²It is the glory of God to conceal a matter

and the glory of kings to search it out.

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

so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

⁴Remove the dross from the silver,

and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.

⁵Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,

and do not stand in the place of great men;

⁷for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!”

than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince.

Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

⁸do not bring hastily to court.

Otherwise, what will you do in the end

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹Argue your case with your neighbor

without betraying another’s confidence,

¹⁰lest the one who hears may disgrace you,

and your infamy never go away.

¹¹A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

¹²Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain

is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

¹⁵Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

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

lest you have too much and vomit it up.

¹⁷Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,

lest he grow weary and hate you.

¹⁸Like a club or sword or sharp arrow

is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

¹⁹Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint

is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

²⁰Like one who removes a garment on a cold day

or vinegar poured on a wound

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

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

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

²²For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the LORD will reward you.

²³As the north wind brings forth rain,

so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.

²⁴Better to live on a corner of the roof

than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat too much honey

or to search out one’s own glory.

²⁸Like a city whose walls are broken down

is a man who does not control his temper.

Related Resources from Heartlight

Cross References for Proverbs 25

The Berean Standard Bible