Chapter 25

  These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.  

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  It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.  

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  The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.  

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  Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.  

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  Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.  

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  Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:  

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  For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.  

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  Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?  

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  Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:  

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  Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.  

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  A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.  

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  Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.  

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  As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.  

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  As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.  

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  A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.  

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  If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.  

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  Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.  

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  One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.  

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  Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.  

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  Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.  

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  If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:  

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  For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.  

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  As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.  

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  It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.  

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  As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.  

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  Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.  

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  It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.  

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  He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.  

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