More Proverbs of Solomon

¹ These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

² The glory of God¹ conceals things, but the glory of kings searches out things.

1. Or “gods”

³ As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth, so is the heart¹ of kings—there is no searching.

1. Or “mind”

⁴ Remove the dross from silver, and it will become a vessel for the smith.

⁵ Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.¹

1. Hebrew “in the righteousness”

⁶ Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand.

⁷ For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,” than he humble you before a noble. What your eyes have seen,

⁸ do not hastily bring out to court, for¹ what will you do at its end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?

1. Or “lest”

⁹ Argue your argument with your neighbor himself, the secret of another do not disclose,

¹⁰ lest he who hears shame you and your ill repute will not end.

¹¹ Apples of gold in a setting of silver is a matter spoken at¹ its proper time.

1. Hebrew “on”

¹² A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.

¹³ Like the cold of snow on a day¹ of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, and the soul² of his master is refreshed.³

1. Or “at a season”
2. Or “life,” or “inner self”
3. Or “returned”

¹⁴ Like clouds and wind when there is no rain, so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.

¹⁵ ⌞With patience⌟¹ a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.²

1. Literally “With length of face”
2. Or “strength”

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.

¹⁷ Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

¹⁸ Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

¹⁹ A bad tooth and a lame foot is the trust of a faithless person ⌞in a time⌟¹ of trouble.

1. Literally “on a day”

²⁰ Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,¹ is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

1. A mineral salt found on dry lake beds often used as a preservative.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread, and if thirsty, let him drink water.

²² For coals of fire you will heap upon his head, and Yahweh will reward you.

²³ The wind of the north produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.

²⁴ Better to live upon the corner of a roof than with a woman¹ of contention and in a shared house.

1. Or “wife”

²⁵ Like cold water¹ upon a weary soul,² so too is good news from a distant place.

1. Hebrew “waters”
2. Or “life,” or “inner self”

²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.

²⁷ To eat much honey is not good, nor is seeking one’s honor¹ honorable.

1. Hebrew “their honor”

²⁸ A breached city where there is no wall is like a man who ⌞has no⌟¹ self-control for his spirit.

1. Literally “there is no”