Proverbs 第 25

These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by Hezekiah's men. Wisdom is worth preserving and passing down through generations.

It is God's glory to conceal a matter and the king's glory to search it out. Mystery invites exploration, and the pursuit of truth is noble.

As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. Human leadership carries complexities beyond what we can see.

Remove the dross from the silver and a silversmith can create something beautiful. Purification reveals the true potential within.

Remove the wicked from the king's presence and his throne will be established through righteousness. Good leadership requires the courage to make hard personnel decisions.

Don't claim honor in the king's presence or take a seat among the great. Humility opens doors that self-promotion slams shut.

It's better for someone to say 'Come up here' than to be humiliated before a ruler. Let others lift you up rather than pulling yourself up.

Don't be hasty to go to court — what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? Rush into conflict and you may regret the outcome.

Settle matters directly with your neighbor and don't betray another's confidence. Honest, private conversations resolve more than public accusations.

Someone who hears may shame you and your reputation will be damaged. Trust, once broken, takes a long time to rebuild.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. The right words at the right time are breathtakingly beautiful.

A wise person's rebuke to a listening ear is like gold jewelry — precious and valuable. Correction, when received well, adorns both the giver and the receiver.

Like the cold of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger — refreshing to the spirit of those who send them. Reliability is a gift that brings relief.

Like clouds and wind without rain is someone who boasts about gifts they never give. Empty promises leave everyone around you thirsty.

Patience can persuade a ruler, and a gentle tongue can break bones. Quiet persistence accomplishes more than loud force.

If you find honey, eat just enough — too much and you'll vomit. Even good things become harmful in excess.

Don't visit your neighbor too often or they'll grow weary of you and hate you. Even friendships need breathing room.

Like a club, sword, or sharp arrow is someone who gives false testimony against a neighbor. Falsehood wounds with lethal precision.

Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of need. Depend on someone unreliable and you'll be left hobbling.

Like taking off a garment on a cold day or vinegar on a wound is singing songs to a heavy heart. Insensitive cheerfulness deepens another's pain.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if thirsty, give him water to drink. Kindness in the face of hostility is profoundly disarming.

You will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. Radical generosity transforms even enemies.

The north wind brings rain, and a backbiting tongue brings angry looks. Gossip always stirs up trouble wherever it goes.

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome spouse. Peace at home is worth more than any square footage.

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Encouragement from afar can revive you like nothing else.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked. Compromising your integrity pollutes everything downstream.

It's not good to eat too much honey, nor is it glorious to seek your own honor. Self-indulgence and self-promotion both leave you empty.

A person without self-control is like a city breached, without walls. Without inner boundaries, you're defenseless against every temptation.