Proverbs 25

1 These [additional, also] are additional proverbs [wise sayings, teachings] of Solomon [a king of Israel], which [that is, the ones] were copied [transcribed, collected] by the men [people, individuals] of Hezekiah [a king who served Jehovah] king [ruler, monarch] of Judah [a tribe and region of Israel]: word study 2 It is the glory [great honor, splendor] of God [Elohim, the supreme One] to conceal [hide, keep secret] a matter [thing, affair] and the glory [great honor, majesty] of kings [royal rulers, monarchs] to search [examine, investigate] it out [thoroughly, carefully]. word study 3 As the heavens [the visible universe, sky] are high [lofty, exalted] and the earth [land, ground] is deep [having great depth, profound], so the hearts [innermost being, will, and intellect] of kings [royal persons, rulers] cannot be searched [investigated, explored, or fully understood]. word study 4 Remove [take away, eliminate] the dross [waste, impurities, scum] from the silver [precious metal, wealth], and a vessel [article, utensil, tool] for a silversmith [refiner, craftsman] will come forth [emerge, be produced]. word study 5 Remove [take away, drive out] the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] from the king’s [royal, sovereign] presence [face, before], and his throne [seat of power, authority] will be established [set up, secured] in righteousness [justice, moral integrity]. word study 6 Do not [refuse to, absolutely not] exalt [honor, promote] yourself [your own importance, pride] in the presence [face, before] of the king [royal ruler, monarch], and do not [never, under no circumstances] stand [take your position, remain] in the place [location, rank] of great [important, noble] men [leaders, dignitaries]; word study 7 for [because of this reason] it is better [more pleasing, advantageous] that he says [utters, commands] to you, “Come up [ascend, rise] here [to this place, hither]!” than [rather than, instead of] that you should be demoted [humbled, abased] in the presence [face, before] of the prince [noble, generous ruler]. Even what [that which] you have seen [perceived, observed] with your own eyes [sight, vision], word study 8 do not [hastily, without careful consideration] bring hastily to court [to strive, to contend with]. Otherwise, what [how, in what way] will you do [make, take action] in the end [the final outcome, the last part] when your neighbor [companion, fellow] puts you to shame [humiliates, causes you to blush]? word study 9 Argue [debate, plead] your case [cause, matter] with your neighbor [friend, companion] without [not, let not] betraying [disclosing, revealing] another’s [someone else’s, a different person’s] confidence [secret, counsel], word study 10 lest [beware that, be cautious] the one who hears [listens and obeys] may [potentially, possibly] disgrace [put to shame, insult] you, and your infamy [slander, evil report, bad reputation] never [not at all, under no circumstances] go away [turn back, depart]. word study 11 A word [spoken at the right time, fittingly expressed] fitly spoken is like apples [delightful and precious] of gold in settings [or pictures, networks] of silver. word study 12 Like an earring [a nose-ring or ornament] of gold [a valuable metal] or an ornament [a shiny trinket, jewel] of fine gold [pure gold, highly valued] is a wise [intelligent, skilled, or prudent] man’s rebuke [correction, reproof, or warning] to a listening [obedient, attentive] ear [the ability to hear, giving attention]. word study 13 Like the cold [frosty, icy] of snow in the time [season, period] of harvest [the gathering of crops, the time of reaping] is a trustworthy [faithful, reliable] messenger [envoy, ambassador] to those who send [dispatch, commission] him; he refreshes [revitalizes, restores] the soul [the inner being, the essence] of his masters [lords, authorities]. word study 14 Like clouds [bringing no refreshment] and wind [a blast of air] without rain [a refreshing downpour] is the man [a male person, individual] who boasts [to shine, make a show] of gifts [reward] never given [with deception, falsely, in a false manner]. word study 15 Through [long-suffering, patient endurance] patience [self-restraint, waiting for the right moment] a ruler [leader, chief, or commander] can be persuaded [won over, convinced], and a [soft, tender, or gentle] gentle tongue [language, speech, or words] can break [shatter, burst, or rupture] a bone [the literal bone, or figuratively one’s inner strength]. word study 16 If you find [discover, come upon] honey [a sweet and valuable food], eat [consume, devour] just what you need [sufficiency, enough], lest [beware, be cautious] you have too much [an excess, more than enough] and vomit [spue out, reject] it up. word study 17 Seldom [rarely, infrequently] set foot [tread, step] in your neighbor’s [friend’s, companion’s] house [dwelling place, home], lest [beware that, be cautious] he grow weary [be satisfied, have too much] and hate [feel intense dislike, hostility] you. word study 18 Like a [war-club, maul] club or [cutting instrument, knife] sword or sharp [pointed] arrow is a man [individual, person] who bears [gives, testifies] false [deceptive, untrue] witness [testimony, evidence] against his [near, close] neighbor [friend, companion]. word study 19 Like a broken [shattered, completely fractured] tooth or a foot [out of place, dislocated] out of joint is confidence [trust, assurance, a place of refuge] in a faithless [unreliable, untrustworthy, deceitful] man in time [a day, a period] of trouble [distress, adversity, vexation]. word study 20 Like one who removes [takes away, looseth] a garment [clothing, robe] on a cold [low temperature, wintry] day or vinegar [sour liquid, acid] poured on a wound [injury, hurt] is one who sings [makes melody] songs [musical expressions, praises] to a heavy [sad, sorrowful] heart [inner being, emotions]. word study 21 If your enemy [hater, one who is hostile] is hungry [in need of food, starving], give him food [bread, sustenance] to eat, and if he is thirsty [in need of drink, parched], give him water [a drink, refreshment] to drink. word study 22 For [because of this reason] in so doing, you will heap [lay, put] burning coals [coals of fire, hot embers] on his head [the topmost part of the body], and the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will reward [recompense, give back] you. word study 23 As the north [Zaphon, a direction or location] wind [a blast of air] brings forth [produces, driveth away] rain [a shower, refreshing downpour], so a backbiting [secret, slandering] tongue [language, speech] brings [causes, results in] angry [indignant, upset] looks [faces, countenances, presence]. word study 24 Better [more pleasing, advantageous] to live [dwell, reside] on a corner [angle, pinnacle] of the roof [housetop, upper room] than to share [cohabitate, live together] a house [dwelling place, home] with a quarrelsome [contentious, brawling] wife [woman, female companion]. word study 25 Like cold [refreshing, cool] water to a weary [faint, exhausted] soul is good [pleasant, beneficial] news from a distant [far, remote] land. word study 26 Like a [troubled, turbid] muddied spring [a source of satisfaction] or a [corrupted] polluted well [a fountain or source of water] is a [just, upright] righteous man [being just or righteous] who gives way [to shake, waver] to the [morally wrong, guilty] wicked [a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin]. word study 27 It is not [absolutely, in no way] good [pleasant, beneficial] to eat [devour, consume] too much [excessive, abundant] honey [a sweet and valuable food] or to search [investigate, seek out] out one’s own [personal, individual] glory [honor, splendor, greatness]. word study 28 Like a city [without walls] whose walls are broken down [to break through, burst out] is a man [individual, person] who does not control [have restraint over, rule] his temper [spirit, emotions, mind]. word study