^{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!

^{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 heart of kings is unsearchable.

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

^{5 Ref} Take away the wicked `from' before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

^{6 Ref} Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:

^{7 Ref} For better is it 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 have seen.

^{8 Ref} Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest `thou know not' what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

^{9 Ref} Debate thy cause with thy neighbor `himself', And disclose not the secret of another;

^{10 Ref} Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.

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

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

^{13 Ref} As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, `So is' a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.

^{14 Ref} `As' clouds and wind without rain, `So is' he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

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

^{16 Ref} Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

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

^{18 Ref} A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

^{19 Ref} Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is `like' a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

^{20 Ref} `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.

^{21 Ref} If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

^{22 Ref} For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.

^{23 Ref} The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

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

^{25 Ref} `As' cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

^{26 Ref} `As' a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, `So is' a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

^{27 Ref} It is not good to eat much honey: So `for men' to search out their own glory is grievous.

^{28 Ref} He whose spirit is without restraint Is `like' a city that is broken down and without walls.

^{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.