^{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!