1 T hese also are wise sayings of Solomon, which were written down by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

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

2 I t is the greatness of God to keep things hidden, but it is the greatness of kings to find things out.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3 A s the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the heart of kings is more than can be known.

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

4 T ake away the waste from the silver, and a silver pot comes out for the workman.

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5 T ake the sinful away from the king, and his throne will stand on what is right and good.

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

6 D o not honor yourself in front of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

7 F or it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put down in front of the ruler whom your eyes have seen.

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 have seen.

8 D o not go out in a hurry to argue. Or what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?

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

9 A rgue your side of the problem with your neighbor, but do not tell the secret of another.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10 O r he who hears you may put you to shame, and bad things will be said about you forever.

lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 A word spoken at the right time is like fruit of gold set in silver.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 A wise man speaking strong words to a listening ear is like a piece of gold for the ear and a beautiful object of fine gold.

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 A faithful man who carries news is like the cold of snow at gathering time to those who send him, for he makes the spirit of his owners feel new again.

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 A man who talks much of a gift he never gives is like clouds and wind without rain.

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 W hen one is slow to anger, a ruler may be won over. A gentle tongue will break a bone.

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

16 H ave you found honey? Eat only what you need, or you may become filled with it and spit it up.

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

17 D o not let your foot be in your neighbor’s house too much, or he may become tired of you and hate you.

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18 A man who tells a lie against his neighbor is like a heavy stick or a sword or a sharp arrow.

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

19 I n time of trouble, trusting in a man who is not faithful is like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint.

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20 H e who sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a coat on a cold day, or like sour wine poured on soda.

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21 I f the one who hates you is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water.

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

22 I f you do that, you will be making him more ashamed of himself, and the Lord will reward you.

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

23 T he north wind brings rain, and a tongue that hurts people brings angry looks.

The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 I t is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.

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

25 G ood news from a land far away is like cold water to a tired soul.

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

26 A man who does what is right but gives way in front of the sinful, is like a well of mud or poisoned water.

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27 I t is not good to eat much honey, and looking for honor is not good.

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28 A man who cannot rule his own spirit is like a city whose walls are broken down.

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