Proverbs 25 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

More Proverbs of Solomon

Pro 25:1

Pro 25:1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

Pro 25:2

Pro 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.

Pro 25:3

Pro 25:3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Pro 25:4

Pro 25:4Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;

Pro 25:5

Pro 25:5take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Pro 25:6

Pro 25:6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great,

Pro 25:7

Pro 25:7for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen

Pro 25:8

Pro 25:8do not hastily bring into court,[fn]
for[fn] what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?

Pro 25:9

Pro 25:9Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another’s secret,

Pro 25:10

Pro 25:10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.

Pro 25:11

Pro 25:11A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Pro 25:12

Pro 25:12Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

Pro 25:13

Pro 25:13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Pro 25:14

Pro 25:14Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

Pro 25:15

Pro 25:15With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.

Pro 25:16

Pro 25:16If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

Pro 25:17

Pro 25:17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

Pro 25:18

Pro 25:18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

Pro 25:19

Pro 25:19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

Pro 25:20

Pro 25:20Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.

Pro 25:21

Pro 25:21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

Pro 25:22

Pro 25:22for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

Pro 25:23

Pro 25:23The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Pro 25:24

Pro 25:24It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Pro 25:25

Pro 25:25Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.

Pro 25:26

Pro 25:26Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Pro 25:27

Pro 25:27It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.[fn]

Pro 25:28

Pro 25:28A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(25:8)

Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8 Do not go hastily out to court

(25:8)

Hebrew or else

(25:27)

The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain

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