Proverbs 25

25 ¹ These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. ² It is the glory of our Father to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search a matter out. ³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. ⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and a vessel comes forth for the refiner. ⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. ⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence, and do not stand in the place of the great; ⁷ for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put in a lower place in front of a noble you can see. ⁸ Do not rush into a quarrel, for what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹ Argue your case with your neighbor himself, but do not disclose another's secret, ¹⁰ lest the one who hears it shame you, and your bad reputation never goes away. ¹¹ A word spoken at the right moment is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ¹² Like a ring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is wise correction to a listening ear. ¹³ Like 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. ¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of a gift never given. ¹⁵ By patience a ruler is persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks bone. ¹⁶ If you find honey, eat only enough, or you will have too much and vomit. ¹⁷ Don't visit your neighbor's house too often, or he will grow weary of you and hate you. ¹⁸ Like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow is one who bears false witness against his neighbor. ¹⁹ Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble. ²⁰ Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, like vinegar poured on baking soda, is the one who sings songs to a heavy heart. ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; ²² for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and our Father will reward you. ²³ The north wind brings forth rain, and a secretive tongue, angry looks. ²⁴ It is better to live in a corner of the rooftop than in a shared house with a quarrelsome wife. ²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. ²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked. ²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey, nor to seek your own glory. ²⁸ Like a city broken into and left without walls is a person who has no control over his own spirit.