Proverbs 25:1-18

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

²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: But the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

³The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴Take away the dross from the silver, And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

⁵Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:

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

⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; And discover not a secret to another:

¹⁰Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³As 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.

¹⁴Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift Is like clouds and wind without rain.

¹⁵By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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

¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; Lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

¹⁸A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.