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

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,

but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver,

and material comes out for the refiner.

5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,

or claim a place among great men;

7 for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here,"

than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,

whom your eyes have seen.

8 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court.

What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

9 Debate your case with your neighbor,

and don’t betray the confidence of another,

10 lest one who hears it put you to shame,

and your bad reputation never depart.

11 A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,

so is a faithful messenger to those who send him;

for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 As clouds and wind without rain,

so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.

15 By patience a ruler is persuaded.

A soft tongue breaks the bone.

16 Have you found honey?

Eat as much as is sufficient for you,

lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor

is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.

20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,

or vinegar on soda,

so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.

If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,

and Yahweh will reward you.

23 The north wind produces rain;

so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop

than to share a house with a contentious woman.

25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,

so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey,

nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls

is a man whose spirit is without restraint.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold inscribed with silver.

12 [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 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 Whosoever boasts in a gift of falsehood [is like] clouds and wind without rain.

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

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

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house lest he be weary of thee and [so] hate thee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28 The man whose spirit has no restraint [is like] a city [that is] broken down [and] without walls.: