1
These also are the sayings |proverbs| of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah gathered together.
2
It is the honour of God to keep a thing secret, but the king's honour is to search out a thing.
3
The heaven is high, the earth is deep, and the kings' heart is unsearchable.
4
Take the dross from the silver, and there shall be a clean vessel thereof.
5
Take away ungodliness from the king, and his seat shall be stablished with righteousness.
6
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and prease not into the place of great men.
7
Better it is that it be said unto thee: Come up hither, than thou to be set down in the presence of the prince whom thou seest with thine eyes.
8
Be not hasty to go to the law, lest happily thou order thyself so that at the last, that thy neighbour put thee to shame.
9
Handle thy matter with thy neighbour himself, and discover not another man's secret:
10
lest when men hear thereof, it turn to thy dishonour, and lest thine evil name do not cease. Septuagint: lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set a man free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
11
A word spoken in due season, is like apples of gold in a silver dish.
12
The correction of the wise is to an obedient ear, a golden chain and a Jewel of gold.
13
Like as the winter cool in the harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, and refresheth his master's mind.
14
Whoso maketh great boasts and giveth nothing, is like clouds and wind without rain.
15
With patience may a prince be pacified, and with a soft tongue may rigorousness be broken.
16
If thou findest honey, eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou be over full, and perbreak it out again.
17
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, lest he be weary of thee, and so abhor thee.
18
Who so beareth false witness against his neighbour, he is a very spear, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19
The hope of the ungodly in time of need, is like a rotten tooth and a slippery foot.
20
Who so singeth a song to a wicked heart, clotheth him with rags in the cold, and poureth vinegar upon chalk. Septuagint: As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21
If thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink: (Septuagint reads the same; Masoretic: If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: Romans 12:20)
22
For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. (Septuagint: for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee with good. Romans 12:20)
23
The north wind driveth away the rain, even so doth an earnest sober countenance a backbiter's tongue.
24
It is better to sit in a corner under the roof, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
25
A good report out of a far country, is like cold water to a thirsty soul.
26
A righteous man falling down before the ungodly, is like a troubled well and a spring that is destroyed.
27
Like as it is not good to eat too much honey, even so he that will search out high things, it shall be too heavy for him.
28
He that can not rule himself, is like a city which is broken down, and hath no walls.