5
Take a wicked person away from the presence of a king, and justice will make his throne secure.
6
Do not brag about yourself in front of a king or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people,
7
because it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put down in front of a prince whom your eyes have seen.
8
Do not be in a hurry to go to court. What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you?
9
Present your argument to your neighbor, but do not reveal another person's secret.
10
Otherwise, when he hears about it, he will humiliate you, and his evil report about you will never disappear.
11
[Like] golden apples in silver settings, [so] is a word spoken at the right time.
12
[Like] a gold ring and a fine gold ornament, [so] is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens.
13
Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day, [so] is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him: He refreshes his masters.
14
[Like] a dense fog or a dust storm, [so] is a person who brags about a gift that he does not give.
15
With patience you can persuade a ruler, and a soft tongue can break bones.