¹ These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.

² It is the glory of¹ God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.

1. 25.2 Elohim

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.