Proverbs 25:2-17
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 25
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. 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.King James Version
Chapter 25
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. 3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 25
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
4Remove impurities from silver, and material will be produced for a silversmith.
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.
New Living Translation
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?
English Standard Version
Chapter 25
2It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. 3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. 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 8do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? 9Argue 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. 11A 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.New International Version
Chapter 25
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
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.
New King James Version
