| Chapter 25 |
1 |
Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: -- --
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2 |
The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter. --
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3 |
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- [are] unsearchable. --
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4 |
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth, --
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5 |
Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne. --
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6 |
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not. --
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7 |
For better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen. --
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8 |
Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush? --
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9 |
Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not, --
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10 |
Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back. --
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11 |
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times. --
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12 |
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear. --
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13 |
As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth. --
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14 |
Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift. --
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15 |
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone. --
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16 |
Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it. --
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17 |
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee. --
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18 |
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony. --
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19 |
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity. --
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20 |
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart. --
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21 |
If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water. --
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22 |
For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee. --
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23 |
A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces. --
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24 |
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company. --
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25 |
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country. --
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26 |
A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked. --
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27 |
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour. --
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28 |
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit! --
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