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 a thing:
but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
³ The heaven for height,
and the earth for depth,
and the heart of kings is unsearchable [nothing of penetration].

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver,
and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king,
and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king,
and stand not in the place of great men:
⁷ For better it is that it be said unto thee,
Come up hither;
than that thou shouldest be put lower
in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive,
lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself;
and discover not a secret to another:
¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame,
and thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word fitly [in season] spoken
is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
¹² As an earring of gold,
and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
so is a faithful messenger to them that send him:
for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
¹⁴ Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift
is like clouds and wind without rain.

¹⁵ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,
and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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 beareth 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 taketh away a garment in cold weather,
and as vinegar upon nitre,
so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

²¹ If thine enemy be hungry,
give him bread to eat;
and if he be 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 driveth away rain:
so doth 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 He that hath no rule over his own spirit
is like a city that is broken down,
and without walls.