American Standard Version ASV
Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
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It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
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As the heaven is high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
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Remove impurities from silver, and a vessel will be produced for a silversmith.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
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Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
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Don't brag about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great;
7 For better is it 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.
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for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!" than to demote you in plain view of a noble.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
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Don't take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterwards if your opponent humiliates you?
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;
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Make your case with your opponent without revealing another's secret;
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
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otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you'll never live it down.
11 A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.
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A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray.
12 [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
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A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.
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.
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To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters.
14 [As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
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The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
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A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
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If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
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Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house; otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
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A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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Trusting an unreliable person in a time of trouble is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.
20 [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
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Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day, or like [pouring] vinegar on soda.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
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If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
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for you will heap coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
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The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
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Better to live on the corner of a roof than in a house shared with a nagging wife.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
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Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat.
26 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
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A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: So [for men] to search out their own glory is grievous.
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It is not good to eat too much honey, or to seek glory after glory.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.
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A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.