Proverbs 25:4-23
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 25
4Take away the impurities from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith; 5Take away the wicked before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. 6Do not boast in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the same place as great people; 7For it is better that it be said to you, 'Come up here,' Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. 8Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you? 9 Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another, 10Or one who hears it will put you to shame, And the evil report about you will not pass away. 11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver, Is a word spoken at the proper time. 12 Like an earring of gold and a jewelry piece of fine gold, Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a listening ear. 13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14 Like clouds and wind without rain Is a person who boasts of his gifts falsely. 15Through patience a ruler may be persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks bone. 16Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, So that you do not have it in excess and vomit it. 17Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become weary of you and hate you. 18 Like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow Is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor. 19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a treacherous person in time of trouble. 20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a troubled heart. 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you. 23The north wind brings rain, And a gossiping tongue brings an angry face.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6Don’t boast about yourself before the king, and don’t stand in the place of the great;
7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!" than to demote you in plain view of a noble.
8Don’t take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterward if your opponent humiliates you?
9Make your case with your opponent without revealing another’s secret;
10otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you’ll never live it down.
11A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.
13To those who send him, a trustworthy envoy is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters.
14The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain.
15A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.
17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house; otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.
18A person giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
New Living Translation
Chapter 25
4Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. 5Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.
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,
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?
9When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret.
10Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.
English Standard Version
Chapter 25
4Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; 5take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. 6Do not put yourself forward in the king 's presence or stand in the place of the great, 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 8 do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? 9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another 's secret, 10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. 12Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. 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. 14Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. 15With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. 16If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. 17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor 's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. 18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. 19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. 20Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.New International Version
5remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
8do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,
10or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
New King James Version
