1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
4Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
5Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
7For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
8Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
9Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
12As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
14As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
15By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
17Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
18A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
19As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
20As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
24Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
26As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
28As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.