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

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

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

¶ It is the glory of God to conceal the word, but the honour of kings is to search out the word.

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

For the height of the heavens and depth of the earth and for the heart of kings, there is no investigation.

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

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

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

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

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

¶ Do not praise thyself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

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.

for it is better that it be said unto thee, Come up here than that thou should be put lower in the presence of the prince 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?

¶ Do not go forth hastily to strive lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof when thy neighbour has put thee to shame.

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

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself and do not uncover the secret to another

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

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

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

¶ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold inscribed with silver.

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

As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is he who reproves a wise man who has a docile 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.

¶ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him, for he refreshes the soul of his master.

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

¶ Whosoever boasts in a gift of falsehood is like clouds and wind without rain.

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

¶ By long forbearing a prince is persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶ As he that takes away a garment in cold weather and as vinegar upon soap, so is he that sings songs to a heavy 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.

¶ If thy enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

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

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

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

¶ The north wind drives away rain, so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶ The man whose spirit has no restraint is like a city that is broken down and without walls.