Proverbs 25:5-28

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 to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.

⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself ; and reveal not a secret to another:

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

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

¹²As an ear-ring 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.

¹⁴Whoever 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 with it, and vomit it.

¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

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

¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

²¹If thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink:

²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.

²³The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

²⁴It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

²⁵As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

²⁶A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.

²⁷It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

²⁸He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.