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

Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --

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

The honour of God to hide a thing, And the honour of kings 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 heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- unsearchable.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 out in a hurry to argue. Or what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts 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 A rgue your side of the problem with your neighbor, but do not tell the secret of another.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, the wise reprover to an attentive 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 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 man who talks much of a gift he never gives is like clouds and wind without rain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

22 I f you do that, you will be making him more ashamed of himself, 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 rain, and a tongue that hurts people brings angry looks.

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

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

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

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

cold waters for a weary soul, So a good report 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 spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, the righteous falling before the wicked.

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

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

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

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