| 1 | ¶ These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed. | |
| 2 | ¶ It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing. | |
| 3 | The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. | |
| 4 | ¶ Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner: | |
| 5 | take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. | |
| 6 | ¶ Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great; | |
| 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 see. | |
| 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, but reveal not the secret of another; | |
| 10 | lest he that heareth {it} disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away. | |
| 11 | ¶ {As} apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season. | |
| 12 | An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive 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 | ¶ Clouds and wind without rain, {so} is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift. | |
| 15 | ¶ By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. | |
| 16 | ¶ Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it. | |
| 17 | ¶ Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour?s house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee. | |
| 18 | ¶ A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour. | |
| 19 | ¶ A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful {man} in the day of trouble. | |
| 20 | ¶ {As} he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, {and as} vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad 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 Jehovah shall reward thee. | |
| 23 | ¶ The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue. | |
| 24 | ¶ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common. | |
| 25 | ¶ {As} cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. | |
| 26 | ¶ A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous {man} that giveth way before the wicked. | |
| 27 | ¶ It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is {itself} a weight. | |
| 28 | ¶ He that hath no rule over his own spirit is {as} a city broken down, without walls. | |