Proverbs 25

New International Reader's Version

² When God hides a matter, he gets glory.
    When kings figure out a matter, they get glory.

³ The heavens are high and the earth is deep.
    In the same way, the minds of kings are impossible to figure out.

⁴ Remove the scum from the silver.
    Then the master worker can make something out of it.
⁵ Remove ungodly officials from where the king is.
    Then the king can make his throne secure because of the godliness around him.

⁶ Don’t brag in front of the king.
    Don’t claim a place among his great men.
⁷ Let the king say to you, “Come up here.”
    That’s better than for him to shame you in front of his nobles.

What you have seen with your own eyes
⁸     don’t bring too quickly to court.
What will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹ If you take your neighbor to court,
    don’t tell others any secrets you promised to keep.
¹⁰ If you do, someone might hear it and put you to shame.
    And the charge against you will stand.

¹¹ The right ruling at the right time
    is like golden apples in silver jewelry.

¹² A wise judge’s warning to a listening ear
    is like a gold earring or jewelry made of fine gold.

¹³ A messenger trusted by the one who sends him
    is like a drink cooled by snow at harvest time.
    He renews the spirit of his master.

¹⁴ A person who brags about gifts never given
    is like wind and clouds that don’t produce rain.

¹⁵ If you are patient, you can win an official over to your side.
    And gentle words can break a bone.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough.
    If you eat too much of it, you will throw up.
¹⁷ Don’t go to your neighbor’s home very often.
    If they see too much of you, they will hate you.

¹⁸ A person who is a false witness against a neighbor
    is like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Trusting someone who is not faithful when trouble comes
    is like a broken tooth or a disabled foot.

²⁰ You may sing songs to a troubled heart.
    But that’s like taking a coat away on a cold day.
    It’s like pouring vinegar on a wound.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.
    If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² By doing these things, you will pile up burning coals on his head.
    And the Lord will reward you.

²³ Like a north wind that brings rain you didn’t expect
    is a crafty tongue that brings looks of shock.

²⁴ It is better to live on a corner of a roof
    than to share a house with a nagging wife.

²⁵ Hearing good news from a land far away
    is like drinking cold water when you are tired.

²⁶ Sometimes godly people give in to those who are evil.
    Then they become like a muddy spring of water or a polluted well.

²⁷ It isn’t good for you to eat too much honey.
    And you shouldn’t try to search out matters too deep for you.

²⁸ A person without self-control
    is like a city whose walls are broken through.