1 T hese are also the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.

2 I t is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.

3 A s the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.

The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 T ake away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the silversmith.

Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:

5 T ake away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).

take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 B e not forward (self-assertive and boastfully ambitious) in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men;

Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great;

7 F or better it is that it should be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whose eyes have seen you.

for better it is 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 see.

8 R ush not forth soon to quarrel, lest you know not what to do in the end when your neighbor has put you to shame.

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9 A rgue your cause with your neighbor himself; discover not and disclose not another’s secret,

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;

10 L est he who hears you revile you and bring shame upon you and your ill repute have no end.

lest he that heareth disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.

11 A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.

12 L ike an earring or nose ring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to an ear that listens and obeys.

An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive ear.

13 L ike the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the life of his masters.

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14 W hoever falsely boasts of gifts is like clouds and wind without rain.

Clouds and wind without rain, is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift.

15 B y long forbearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance.

By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16 H ave you found honey? Eat only as much as is sufficient for you, lest, being filled with it, you vomit it.

Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it.

17 L et your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house, lest he become tired of you and hate you.

Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a heavy sledgehammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.

A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.

19 C onfidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint.

A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful in the day of trouble.

20 H e who sings songs to a heavy heart is like him who lays off a garment in cold weather and like vinegar upon soda.

he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.

21 I f your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 F or in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you.

for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.

23 T he north wind brings forth rain; so does a backbiting tongue bring forth an angry countenance.

The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 I t is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a disagreeing, quarrelsome, and scolding woman.

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.

25 L ike cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 L ike a muddied fountain and a polluted spring is a righteous man who yields, falls down, and compromises his integrity before the wicked.

A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous that giveth way before the wicked.

27 I t is not good to eat much honey; so for men to seek glory, their own glory, causes suffering and is not glory.

It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is a weight.

28 H e who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is a city broken down, without walls.