## Proverbs Chapter 25

###### Proverbs 25:1
[Proverbs 25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:1)

גַּם־אֵ֭לֶּה מִשְׁלֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶ֝עְתִּ֗יקוּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י**׀** חִזְקִיָּ֬ה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
These also are proverbs of Shelomo, which the men of Ḥizqiyya, king of Yehuda copied out.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
These, too, are the analogues of King Solomon, which were set down by the men of Chizkiyah, king of Judah [when he was crowned as king].


###### Proverbs 25:2
[Proverbs 25:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:2)

כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר וּכְבֹ֥ד מְ֝לָכִ֗ים חֲקֹ֣ר דָּבָֽר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The honor of G-d is concealing a thing [(i.e., not to make inquiries into recondite matters such as the Divine Chariot, the creation, and the statutes of the Torah)]; but the honor of kings [i.e., the sages] is searching out a thing [(trying to understand the reasons for their "fences," their decrees, etc.)].


###### Proverbs 25:3
[Proverbs 25:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:3)

שָׁמַ֣יִם לָ֭רוּם וָאָ֣רֶץ לָעֹ֑מֶק וְלֵ֥ב מְ֝לָכִ֗ים אֵ֣ין חֵֽקֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The heavens for height, the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [(the sages)] for fathomlessness.


###### Proverbs 25:4
[Proverbs 25:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:4)

הָג֣וֹ סִיגִ֣ים מִכָּ֑סֶף וַיֵּצֵ֖א לַצֹּרֵ֣ף כֶּֽלִי׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Take away the dross from the silver, and a vessel emerges for the refiner.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Remove the dross from the silver, and [only then] send the vessel to the refiner.


###### Proverbs 25:5
[Proverbs 25:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:5)

הָג֣וֹ רָ֭שָׁע לִפְנֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ וְיִכּ֖וֹן בַּצֶּ֣דֶק כִּסְאֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Remove the wicked one from before the King, and [only then] will His throne be established in righteousness. [(The community is not absolved of responsibility until the evildoers are removed from its midst and punished.)]


###### Proverbs 25:6
[Proverbs 25:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:6)

אַל־תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר לִפְנֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ וּבִמְק֥וֹם גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹֽד׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Do not give thyself airs in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: for better it is that it be said to thee.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Do not plume yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of the great [(but keep a respectful distance)].


###### Proverbs 25:7
[Proverbs 25:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:7)

כִּ֤י ט֥וֹב אֲמׇר־לְךָ֗ עֲֽלֵ֫ה־הֵ֥נָּה מֵ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָ לִפְנֵ֣י נָדִ֑יב אֲשֶׁ֖ר רָא֣וּ עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Come up here; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For it is better that it be said to you: "Come up here" than that you be made to go down before the prince, as, [indeed,] your eyes have seen.


###### Proverbs 25:8
[Proverbs 25:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:8)

אַל־תֵּצֵ֥א לָרִ֗ב מַ֫הֵ֥ר פֶּ֣ן מַה־תַּ֭עֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָ֑הּ בְּהַכְלִ֖ים אֹתְךָ֣ רֵעֶֽךָ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Do not proceed hastily to litigation, lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, when thy neighbour has put thee to shame.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Do not be quick to stir up strife, lest [you do not know] what to do in the end when your friend shames you [(by proving himself guiltless)].


###### Proverbs 25:9
[Proverbs 25:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:9)

רִ֭יבְךָ רִ֣יב אֶת־רֵעֶ֑ךָ וְס֖וֹד אַחֵ֣ר אַל־תְּגָֽל׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour: and do not reveal the secret of another:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Prosecute your quarrel with your friend [(if you must)], but do not reveal the secret of another [i.e., do not bring up to him the wrongdoing of his ancestors so that others come to know of it)].


###### Proverbs 25:10
[Proverbs 25:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:10)

פֶּֽן־יְחַסֶּדְךָ֥ שֹׁמֵ֑עַ וְ֝דִבָּתְךָ֗ לֹ֣א תָשֽׁוּב׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
lest he who hears thee betray thee; and lest thy calumny be carried back.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Lest the hearer shame you [(by calling you a slanderer)] and you be unable to retract your slander.


###### Proverbs 25:11
[Proverbs 25:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:11)

תַּפּוּחֵ֣י זָ֭הָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּ֣וֹת כָּ֑סֶף דָּ֝בָ֗ר דָּבֻ֥ר עַל־אׇפְנָֽיו׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in ornaments of silver.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like golden apples [carved] into silver [-plated] vessels are words cogently spoken.


###### Proverbs 25:12
[Proverbs 25:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:12)

נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב וַחֲלִי־כָ֑תֶם מוֹכִ֥יחַ חָ֝כָ֗ם עַל־אֹ֥זֶן שֹׁמָֽעַת׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Like an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like a golden ring among jewelry of finest gold is the reproof of a sage upon a hearing ear.


###### Proverbs 25:13
[Proverbs 25:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:13)

כְּצִנַּת־שֶׁ֨לֶג**׀** בְּי֬וֹם קָצִ֗יר צִ֣יר נֶ֭אֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָ֑יו וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ אֲדֹנָ֣יו יָשִֽׁיב׃{פ}

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Like the cold snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him: for he refreshes the soul of his master.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like the cold of [(a day of)] snow on a harvest day is a faithful emissary to his sender; he revives his master's soul.


###### Proverbs 25:14
[Proverbs 25:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:14)

נְשִׂיאִ֣ים וְ֭רוּחַ וְגֶ֣שֶׁם אָ֑יִן אִ֥ישׁ מִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ל בְּמַתַּת־שָֽׁקֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
One who boasts of gifts that he does not give is like clouds and wind without rain.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like clouds and wind without [the expected] rain, so is one who vaunts himself over a false gift [i.e., a gift that he never gives].


###### Proverbs 25:15
[Proverbs 25:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:15)

בְּאֹ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם יְפֻתֶּ֣ה קָצִ֑ין וְלָשׁ֥וֹן רַ֝כָּ֗ה תִּשְׁבׇּר־גָּֽרֶם׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
By long forbearing is a ruler won over, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
So long as He withholds His wrath the Ruler may be mollified [(by penitence and prayer)], and a soft tongue [(in prayer and supplication)] may break the bone [i.e., the severity of the decree].


###### Proverbs 25:16
[Proverbs 25:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:16)

דְּבַ֣שׁ מָ֭צָאתָ אֱכֹ֣ל דַּיֶּ֑ךָּ פֶּן־תִּ֝שְׂבָּעֶ֗נּוּ וַהֲקֵאתֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Hast thou found honey? eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be sated with it, and vomit it up.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
If you find honey, eat [only] what you need, lest you are surfeited and vomit it up.


###### Proverbs 25:17
[Proverbs 25:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:17)

הֹקַ֣ר רַ֭גְלְךָ מִבֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ פֶּן־יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[Similarly,] let your feet not frequent the house of your friend, lest he be surfeited with you and hate you.


###### Proverbs 25:18
[Proverbs 25:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:18)

מֵפִ֣יץ וְ֭חֶרֶב וְחֵ֣ץ שָׁנ֑וּן אִ֥ישׁ עֹנֶ֥ה בְ֝רֵעֵ֗הוּ עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A man who bears false witness against his neighbour is like a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow is one who testifies falsely against his friend.


###### Proverbs 25:19
[Proverbs 25:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:19)

שֵׁ֣ן רֹ֭עָה וְרֶ֣גֶל מוּעָ֑דֶת מִבְטָ֥ח בּ֝וֹגֵ֗ד בְּי֣וֹם צָרָֽה׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Like a broken tooth and a slipping foot is a trust [(in a friend)] that deceives in a day of trouble.


###### Proverbs 25:20
[Proverbs 25:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:20)

מַ֥עֲדֶה־בֶּ֨גֶד**׀** בְּי֣וֹם קָ֭רָה חֹ֣מֶץ עַל־נָ֑תֶר וְשָׁ֥ר בַּ֝שִּׁרִ֗ים עַ֣ל לֶב־רָֽע׃{פ}

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, and like acid upon nitre, is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A worn-out garment on a cold day is like vinegar on nitre [(the vinegar eroding the nitre)], and, [similar to both,] is one who sings upon a bad heart [i.e., one who teaches Torah to a wicked disciple, who has no intention of abiding by his learning.]


###### Proverbs 25:21
[Proverbs 25:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:21)

אִם־רָעֵ֣ב שֹׂ֭נַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּ לָ֑חֶם וְאִם־צָ֝מֵ֗א הַשְׁקֵ֥הוּ מָֽיִם׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
If your foe be hungry, feed him bread; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink.


###### Proverbs 25:22
[Proverbs 25:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:22)

כִּ֤י גֶחָלִ֗ים אַ֭תָּה חֹתֶ֣ה עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה יְשַׁלֶּם־לָֽךְ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For [in doing so] you draw coals [from the fire to heap] upon his head, and the L-rd will reconcile [him] to you.


###### Proverbs 25:23
[Proverbs 25:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:23)

ר֣וּחַ צָ֭פוֹן תְּח֣וֹלֵֽל גָּ֑שֶׁם וּפָנִ֥ים נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים לְשׁ֣וֹן סָֽתֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The north wind brings in the rain: so does an angry countenance, a back biting tongue.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A north wind brews a rain, and a secret [i.e., slanderous] tongue, a scornful Countenance.


###### Proverbs 25:24
[Proverbs 25:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:24)

ט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת (מדונים) [מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים] וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a roomy house.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better [for the Shechinah] to dwell on a rooftop corner than [to have] a "contentious wife" [i.e., a sinning congregation] and a house [(a Temple)] of conjunction [i.e., where idolatry is conjoined to His worship].


###### Proverbs 25:25
[Proverbs 25:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:25)

מַ֣יִם קָ֭רִים עַל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲיֵפָ֑ה וּשְׁמוּעָ֥ה ט֝וֹבָ֗ה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מֶרְחָֽק׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Cold water on a weary soul and a good report from a distant land [(on a weary soul) are both restorative to it].


###### Proverbs 25:26
[Proverbs 25:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:26)

מַעְיָ֣ן נִ֭רְפָּשׂ וּמָק֣וֹר מׇשְׁחָ֑ת צַ֝דִּ֗יק מָ֣ט לִפְנֵֽי־רָשָֽׁע׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is like a muddied fountain, and a polluted spring.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[(As loathsome as)] a trodden spring and a fouled [water] source is a righteous man who bows before an evildoer [(fearing to reprove him)].


###### Proverbs 25:27
[Proverbs 25:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:27)

אָ֘כֹ֤ל דְּבַ֣שׁ הַרְבּ֣וֹת לֹא־ט֑וֹב וְחֵ֖קֶר כְּבֹדָ֣ם כָּבֽוֹד׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
It is not good to eat much honey: so it is honour to set bounds to honour.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Eating too much honey is not good [(It is not good to probe recondite matters (like the Divine Chariot and the creation) before the uninitiated, for they are likely to ridicule what is beyond them)], but the probing of their [the sages'] honor [(their enactments and decrees)] is honor [to them].


###### Proverbs 25:28
[Proverbs 25:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Proverbs/r/25:28)

עִ֣יר פְּ֭רוּצָה אֵ֣ין חוֹמָ֑ה אִ֝֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵ֖ין מַעְצָ֣ר לְרוּחֽוֹ׃

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
A breached city without a wall is the man with no constraint to his spirit.