1 A lso these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --

2 T he honour of God to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.

3 T he heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- unsearchable.

4 T ake away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,

5 T ake away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.

6 H onour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.

7 F or 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 to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?

9 T hy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,

10 L est the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.

11 A pples of gold in imagery of silver, the word spoken at its fit times.

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

13 A s 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 C louds and wind, and rain there is none, a man boasting himself in a false gift.

15 B y long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

16 H oney thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated it, and hast vomited it.

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

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

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

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

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

22 F or coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.

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

24 B etter to sit on a corner of a roof, Than a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

25 c old waters for a weary soul, So a good report from a far country.

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

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

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