Proverbs 25-26 Darby’s Translation

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Comparisons and Moral Lessons


2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing. 3  The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4  Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner: 5  take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6  Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great; 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.

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. 9  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another; 10  lest he that heareth [it] disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.

11  [As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season. 12  An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive ear.









21  If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22  for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.

23  The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.






26 1  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.

2  As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.



6  He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage. 7  The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8  As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9  [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10  A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.


12  Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

13  The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!

14  [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.

15  The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16  A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.

17  He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18  As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19  so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?

20  Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth. 21  [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife. 22  The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23  Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

24  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him: 25  when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26  Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.


28  A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.


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