| Chapter 25 |
1 | These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
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2 | It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.
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3 | The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
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4 | Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
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5 | take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
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6 | Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great;
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7 | for 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 see.
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8 | Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
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9 | Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
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10 | lest he that heareth [it] disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.
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11 | [As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.
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12 | An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive ear.
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13 | As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so] is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
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14 | Clouds and wind without rain, [so] is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift.
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15 | By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
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16 | Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it.
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17 | Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.
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18 | A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
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19 | A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful [man] in the day of trouble.
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20 | [As] he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.
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21 | If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
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22 | for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.
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23 | The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
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24 | It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
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25 | [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
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26 | A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous [man] that giveth way before the wicked.
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27 | It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is [itself] a weight.
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28 | He that hath no rule over his own spirit is [as] a city broken down, without walls.
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