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

Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that 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 matter.

The honour of God to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.

3 A s the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

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

4 T ake away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:

Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,

5 T ake away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.

6 P ut not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:

Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.

7 F or 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.

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

8 G o not forth hastily to strive, Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

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

9 D ebate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another;

Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,

10 L est he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.

Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.

11 A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver.

Apples of gold in imagery of silver, the word spoken at its fit times.

12 A s an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, the wise reprover to an attentive ear.

13 A s 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.

As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.

14 A s clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, a man boasting himself in a false gift.

15 B y long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

16 H ast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated it, and hast vomited it.

17 L et thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated thee, and have hated thee.

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

A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.

19 C onfidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.

20 A s one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.

21 I f thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

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

22 F or thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.

For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.

23 T he north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces.

24 I t is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

25 A s cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

cold waters for a weary soul, So a good report from a far country.

26 A s a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, the righteous falling before the wicked.

27 I t is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.

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

28 H e whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

A city broken down without walls, a man without restraint over his spirit!