and thy want as an armed man. [1]
CHAP. 25.
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. [2]
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men : [3]
7 For better it is that it be said to thee, Come up here; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in its end, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself ; and reveal not a secret to another: [4]
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. [5]
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. [6]
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. [7] [8]
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a club, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. [9]
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
CHAP. 26.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not proper for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. [10]
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh violence. [11]
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. [12]
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. [13]
9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. [14]
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. [15]
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. [16]
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. [17]
18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, [18]
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Where no wood is, there the fire
- ↑ an...: Heb. a man of shield
- ↑ is...: Heb. there is no searching
- ↑ Put...: Heb. Set not out thy glory
- ↑ a secret...: or, the secret of
- ↑ fitly...: Heb. spoken upon his wheels
- ↑ of a...: Heb. in a gift of falsehood
- ↑ Withdraw...: or, Let thy foot be seldom in
- ↑ weary...: Heb. full of thee
- ↑ driveth...: or, bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance
- ↑ conceit: Heb. eyes
- ↑ damage: or, violence
- ↑ are...: Heb. are lifted up
- ↑ bindeth...: or, putteth a precious stone in an heap of stones
- ↑ The great...: or, A great man grieveth all, and he hireth the fool, he hireth also transgressors
- ↑ returneth to his folly: Heb. iterateth his folly
- ↑ it grieveth...: or, he is weary
- ↑ meddleth: or, is enraged
- ↑ firebrands: Heb. flames, or, sparks
