Proverbs 25 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

More Proverbs of Solomon

Pro 25:1

Pro 25:1These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.

Pro 25:2

Pro 25:2It is God’s privilege to conceal things
and the king’s privilege to discover them.

Pro 25:3

Pro 25:3No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,
or all that goes on in the king’s mind!

Pro 25:4

Pro 25:4Remove the impurities from silver,
and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.

Pro 25:5

Pro 25:5Remove the wicked from the king’s court,
and his reign will be made secure by justice.

Pro 25:6

Pro 25:6Don’t demand an audience with the king
or push for a place among the great.

Pro 25:7

Pro 25:7It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table
than to be sent away in public disgrace.
Just because you’ve seen something,

Pro 25:8

Pro 25:8don’t be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

Pro 25:9

Pro 25:9When arguing with your neighbor,
don’t betray another person’s secret.

Pro 25:10

Pro 25:10Others may accuse you of gossip,
and you will never regain your good reputation.

Pro 25:11

Pro 25:11Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.

Pro 25:12

Pro 25:12To one who listens, valid criticism
is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

Pro 25:13

Pro 25:13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.
They revive the spirit of their employer.

Pro 25:14

Pro 25:14A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it
is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

Pro 25:15

Pro 25:15Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones.

Pro 25:16

Pro 25:16Do you like honey?
Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!

Pro 25:17

Pro 25:17Don’t visit your neighbors too often,
or you will wear out your welcome.

Pro 25:18

Pro 25:18Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

Pro 25:19

Pro 25:19Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.

Pro 25:20

Pro 25:20Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
or pouring vinegar in a wound.[fn]

Pro 25:21

Pro 25:21If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.

Pro 25:22

Pro 25:22You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,
and the LORD will reward you.

Pro 25:23

Pro 25:23As surely as a north wind brings rain,
so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

Pro 25:24

Pro 25:24It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

Pro 25:25

Pro 25:25Good news from far away
is like cold water to the thirsty.

Pro 25:26

Pro 25:26If the godly give in to the wicked,
it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

Pro 25:27

Pro 25:27It’s not good to eat too much honey,
and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.

Pro 25:28

Pro 25:28A person without self-control
is like a city with broken-down walls.

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

NLT Footnotes

(25:20)

As in Greek version; Hebrew reads pouring vinegar on soda.

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