Proverbs 25:1-22

¹These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Hezekiah king of Judea copied out.

²The glory of God conceals a matter: But the glory of a king honors business.

³Heaven is high, and earth is deep, And a king’s heart is unsearchable.

⁴Beat the drossy silver, And it shall be made entirely pure.

⁵Slay the ungodly from before the king, And his throne shall prosper in righteousness.

⁶Be not boastful in the presence of the king, And remain not in the places of princes;

⁷For it is better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, Than that one should humble thee in the presence of the prince; Speak of that which thine eyes have seen.

⁸Get not suddenly into a quarrel, Lest thou repent at last.

⁹Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, Retreat backward, despise him not;

¹⁰Lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, So thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, But shall be to thee like death.

^10aFavor and friendship set a man free, Which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; But take heed to thy ways peaceably.

¹¹As a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, So is it to speak a wise word.

¹²In an earring of gold a precious sardius is also set; So is a wise word to an obedient ear.

¹³As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, So a faithful messenger refreshes those that send him; For he helps the souls of his employers.

¹⁴As winds and clouds and rains are most evident objects, So is he that boasts of a false gift.

¹⁵In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, And a soft tongue breaks the bones.

¹⁶Having found honey, eat only what is enough, Lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.

¹⁷Enter sparingly into thy friend’s house, Lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.

¹⁸As a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, So also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.

¹⁹The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.

²⁰As vinegar is bad for a sore, So trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart.

^20aAs a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, So the grief of a man hurts the heart.

²¹If thine enemy hunger, feed him; If he thirst, give him drink;

²²For so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the Lord shall reward thee with good.