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

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 matter, 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 silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.

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 will be established in righteousness.

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

6 D o not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great;

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

7 F or it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your 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 D o not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you 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 your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another;

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

10 L est he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined.

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 settings of silver.

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

12 L ike an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

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

13 L ike the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes 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 W hoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain.

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

15 B y long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

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

16 H ave you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit.

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

17 S eldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you.

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

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, 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 bad 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 L ike one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings 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 your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is 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 so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.

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

23 T he north wind brings forth rain, And 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 a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

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

25 A s cold water to a weary 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 righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

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

27 I t is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory.

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

28 W hoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

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