Proverbs 25:14-22
Proverbs 25:14-22 The Message (MSG)
Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces. Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses. When you’re given a box of candy, don’t gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you’ll make yourself sick; And when you find a friend, don’t outwear your welcome; show up at all hours and he’ll soon get fed up. Anyone who tells lies against the neighbors in court or on the street is a loose cannon. Trusting a double-crosser when you’re in trouble is like biting down on an abscessed tooth. Singing light songs to the heavyhearted is like pouring salt in their wounds. If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and GOD will look after you.
Proverbs 25:14-22 King James Version (KJV)
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift Is like clouds and wind without rain. By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; Lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD shall reward thee.
Proverbs 25:14-22 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely. By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone. Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it. Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become weary of you and hate you. Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25:14-22 New Century Version (NCV)
People who brag about gifts they never give are like clouds and wind that give no rain. With patience you can convince a ruler, and a gentle word can get through to the hard-headed. If you find honey, don’t eat too much, or it will make you throw up. Don’t go to your neighbor’s house too often; too much of you will make him hate you. When you lie about your neighbors, it hurts them as much as a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. Trusting unfaithful people when you are in trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot. Singing songs to someone who is sad is like taking away his coat on a cold day or pouring vinegar on soda. If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25:14-22 American Standard Version (ASV)
As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely. By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
Proverbs 25:14-22 New International Version (NIV)
Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you. Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25:14-22 New King James Version (NKJV)
Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain. By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25:14-22 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts falsely of gifts [he does not give]. [Jude 12] By patience and a calm spirit a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance]. [Gen 32:4; 1 Sam 25:24; Prov 15:1; 16:14] Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as you need, Otherwise, being filled excessively, you vomit it. Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become tired of you and hate you. Like a club and a sword and a piercing arrow Is a man who testifies falsely against his neighbor (acquaintance). Like a broken tooth or an unsteady foot Is confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble. Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda, Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart. [Dan 6:18; Rom 12:15] If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; [Matt 5:44; Rom 12:20] For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25:14-22 New Living Translation (NLT)
A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones. Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome. Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow. Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot. Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound. If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25:14-22 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Clouds that carry no water and a wind that brings no refreshing rain — that’s what you’re like when you boast of a gift that you don’t have. Use patience and kindness when you want to persuade leaders and watch them change their minds right in front of you. For your gentle wisdom will quell the strongest resistance. When you discover something sweet, don’t overindulge and eat more than you need, for excess in anything can make you sick of even a good thing. Don’t wear out your welcome by staying too long at the home of your friends, or they may get fed up with always having you there and wish you hadn’t come. Lying about and slandering people are as bad as hitting them with a club, or wounding them with an arrow, or stabbing them with a sword. You can’t depend on an unreliable person when you really need help. It can be compared to biting down on an abscessed tooth or walking with a sprained ankle. When you sing a song of joy to someone suffering in the deepest grief and heartache, it can be compared to disrobing in the middle of a blizzard or rubbing salt in a wound. Is your enemy hungry? Buy him lunch. Win him over with your kindness. Your surprising generosity will awaken his conscience and God will reward you with favor.
Proverbs 25:14-22 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.