Proverbs 25
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
ΑΥΤΑΙ αἱ παιδεῖαι Σολομῶντος αἱ ἀδιάκριτοι, ἃς ἐξεγράψαντο οἱ φίλοι ᾿Εζεκίου τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας. -
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
Δόξα Θεοῦ κρύπτει λόγον, δόξα δὲ βασιλέως τιμᾷ πράγματα.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king’s heart is unsearchable.
οὐρανὸς ὑψηλός, γῆ δὲ βαθεῖα, καρδία δὲ βασιλέως ἀνεξέλεγκτος.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
τύπτε ἀδόκιμον ἀργύριον, καὶ καθαρισθήσεται καθαρὸν ἅπαν·
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
κτεῖνε ἀσεβεῖς ἐκ προσώπου βασιλέως, καὶ κατορθώσει ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ὁ θρόνος αὐτοῦ.
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
μὴ ἀλαζονεύου ἐνώπιον βασιλέως, μηδὲ ἐν τόποις δυναστῶν ὑφίστασο·
for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
κρεῖσσον γάρ σοι τὸ ῥηθῆναι· ἀνάβαινε πρός με ἢ ταπεινῶσαί σε ἐν προσώπῳ δυνάστου. ἃ εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου, λέγε.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
μὴ πρόσπιπτε εἰς μάχην ταχέως, ἵνα μὴ μεταμεληθῇς ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων. ἡνίκα ἄν σε ὀνειδίσῃ ὁ σὸς φίλος,
Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
ἀναχώρει εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω μὴ καταφρόνει,
lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. 10α Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
α χάρις καὶ φιλία ἐλευθεροῖ, ἃς τήρησον σεαυτῷ, ἵνα μὴ ἐπονείδιστος γένῃ, ἀλλὰ φύλαξον τὰς ὁδούς σου εὐσυναλλάκτως.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
μῆλον χρυσοῦν ἐν ὁρμίσκῳ σαρδίου, οὕτως εἰπεῖν λόγον.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
εἰς ἐνώτιον χρυσοῦν καὶ σάρδιον πολυτελὲς δέδεται, λόγος σοφὸς εἰς εὐήκοον οὖς.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
ὥσπερ ἔξοδος χιόνος ἐν ἀμήτῳ κατὰ καῦμα ὠφελεῖ, οὕτως ἄγγελος πιστὸς τοὺς ἀποστείλαντας αὐτόν· ψυχὰς γὰρ τῶν αὐτῷ χρωμένων ὠφελεῖ.
as winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
ὥσπερ ἄνεμοι καὶ νέφη καὶ ὑετοὶ ἐπιφανέστατα, οὕτως ὁ καυχώμενος ἐπὶ δόσει ψευδεῖ.
In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ εὐοδία βασιλεῦσι, γλῶσσα δὲ μαλακὴ συντρίβει ὀστᾶ.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
μέλι εὑρὼν φάγε τὸ ἱκανόν, μήποτε πλησθεὶς ἐξεμέσῃς.
Enter sparingly into thy friend’s house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
σπάνιον εἴσαγε σὸν πόδα πρὸς σεαυτοῦ φίλον, μήποτε πλησθείς σου μισήσῃ σε.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
ρόπαλον καὶ μάχαιρα καὶ τόξευμα ἀκιδωτόν, οὕτως καὶ ἀνὴρ ὁ καταμαρτυρῶν τοῦ φίλου αὐτοῦ μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
ὁδὸς κακοῦ καὶ ποὺς παρανόμου ὀλεῖται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῇ.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. 20α As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
α ὥσπερ σὴς ἐν ἱματίῳ καὶ σκώληξ ξύλῳ, οὕτως λύπη ἀνδρὸς βλάπτει καρδίαν.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
ἐὰν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν, ἐὰν διψᾷ, πότιζε αὐτόν·
for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἀνταποδώσει σοι ἀγαθά.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
ἄνεμος Βορέας ἐξεγείρει νέφη, πρόσωπον δὲ ἀναιδὲς γλῶσσαν ἐρεθίζει.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
κρεῖσσον οἰκεῖν ἐπὶ γωνίας δώματος ἢ μετὰ γυναικὸς λοιδόρου ἐν οἰκίᾳ κοινῇ.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
ὥσπερ ὕδωρ ψυχρὸν ψυχῇ διψώσῃ προσηνές, οὕτως ἀγγελία ἀγαθὴ ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
ὥσπερ εἴ τις πηγὴ φράσσοι καὶ ὕδατος ἔξοδον λυμαίνοιτο, οὕτως ἄκοσμον δίκαιον πεπτωκέναι ἐνώπιον ἀσεβοῦς.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
ἐσθίειν μέλι πολὺ οὐ καλόν, τιμᾶ δὲ χρὴ λόγους ἐνδόξους.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
ὥσπερ πόλις τὰ τείχει καταβεβλημένη καὶ ἀτείχιστος, οὕτως ἀνὴρ ὃς οὐ μετὰ βουλῆς τι πράσσει.