Verse 1
These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
Verse 2
It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
Verse 3
The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
Verse 4
Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
Verse 5
Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
Verse 6
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
Verse 7
For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
Verse 8
Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
Verse 9
Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
Verse 10
Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
Verse 11
A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
Verse 12
Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
Verse 13
As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
Verse 14
As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
Verse 15
A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
Verse 16
If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
Verse 17
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
Verse 18
One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
Verse 19
Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
Verse 20
Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
Verse 21
If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
Verse 22
For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
Verse 23
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
Verse 24
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
Verse 25
As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
Verse 26
Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
Verse 27
It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
Verse 28
He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.