^{1 Ref} These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

^{2 Ref} It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

^{3 Ref} As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

^{4 Ref} Take away the dross from the silver, And material comes out for the refiner;

^{5 Ref} Take away the wicked from the king's presence, And his throne will be established in righteousness.

^{6 Ref} Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king, Or claim a place among great men;

^{7 Ref} For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

^{8 Ref} Don't be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

^{9 Ref} Debate your case with your neighbor, And don't betray the confidence of another;

^{10 Ref} Lest one who hears it put you to shame, And your bad reputation never depart.

^{11 Ref} A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

^{12 Ref} As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

^{13 Ref} As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to those who send him; For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

^{14 Ref} As clouds and wind without rain, So is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.

^{15 Ref} By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

^{16 Ref} Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, Lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

^{17 Ref} Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

^{18 Ref} A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

^{19 Ref} Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.

^{20 Ref} As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, Or vinegar on soda, So is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

^{21 Ref} If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:

^{22 Ref} For you will heap coals of fire on his head, And Yahweh will reward you.

^{23 Ref} The north wind brings forth rain: So a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

^{24 Ref} It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.

^{25 Ref} Like cold water to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

^{26 Ref} Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, So is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

^{27 Ref} It is not good to eat much honey; Nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

^{28 Ref} Like a city that is broken down and without walls Is a man whose spirit is without restraint.

^{1 Ref} These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

^{2 Ref} It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.

^{3 Ref} The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.

^{4 Ref} Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.

^{5 Ref} Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.

^{6 Ref} Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:

^{7 Ref} 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.

^{8 Ref} 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?

^{9 Ref} Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:

^{10 Ref} Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.

^{11 Ref} A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.

^{12 Ref} 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.

^{13 Ref} 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.

^{14 Ref} As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.

^{15 Ref} A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.

^{16 Ref} 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.

^{17 Ref} 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.

^{18 Ref} One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.

^{19 Ref} Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.

^{20 Ref} Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.

^{21 Ref} If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:

^{22 Ref} For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.

^{23 Ref} As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.

^{24 Ref} It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.

^{25 Ref} As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.

^{26 Ref} Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.

^{27 Ref} It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.

^{28 Ref} He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.

^{1 Ref} Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --

^{2 Ref} The honour of God `is' to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.

^{3 Ref} The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- `are' unsearchable.

^{4 Ref} Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,

^{5 Ref} Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.

^{6 Ref} Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.

^{7 Ref} For better `that' he hath said to thee, `Come thou up hither,' Than `that' he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

^{8 Ref} Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?

^{9 Ref} Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,

^{10 Ref} Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.

^{11 Ref} Apples of gold in imagery of silver, `Is' the word spoken at its fit times.

^{12 Ref} A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, `Is' the wise reprover to an attentive ear.

^{13 Ref} As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, `So is' a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.

^{14 Ref} Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, `Is' a man boasting himself in a false gift.

^{15 Ref} By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

^{16 Ref} Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated `with' it, and hast vomited it.

^{17 Ref} Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated `with' thee, and have hated thee.

^{18 Ref} A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, `Is' the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.

^{19 Ref} A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, `Is' the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.

^{20 Ref} Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, `Is as' vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.

^{21 Ref} If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.

^{22 Ref} For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.

^{23 Ref} A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces.

^{24 Ref} Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than `with' a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

^{25 Ref} `As' cold waters for a weary soul, So `is' a good report from a far country.

^{26 Ref} A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, `Is' the righteous falling before the wicked.

^{27 Ref} The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour.

^{28 Ref} A city broken down without walls, `Is' a man without restraint over his spirit!