The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 These also are proverbs of Shlomo; the men of Hizkiyah king of Y'hudah copied them out:
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These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 God gets glory from concealing things; kings get glory from investigating things.
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It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.
3 Like the sky for height or the earth for depth is the heart of kings - unfathomable.
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The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.
4 Remove the impurities from the silver, and the smith has material to make a vessel.
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Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will rest firmly on righteousness.
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Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.
6 Don't put yourself forward in the king's presence; don't take a place among the great.
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Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
7 For it is better to be told, "Come up here,"than be degraded in the presence of a nobleman. What your eyes have seen,
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For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.
8 don't rush to present in a dispute. For what will you do later on, if your neighbor puts you to shame?
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Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?
9 Discuss your dispute with your neighbor, but don't reveal another person's secrets.
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Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:
10 If you do, and he hears of it, he will disgrace you, and your bad reputation will stick.
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Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word appropriately spoken.
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A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.
12 Like a gold earring, like a fine gold necklace is a wise reprover to a receptive ear.
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Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
13 Like the coldness of snow in the heat of the harvest is a faithful messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes his master's spirit.
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As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind that bring no rain is he who boasts of gifts he never gives.
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As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.
15 With patience a ruler may be won over, and a gentle tongue can break bones.
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A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
16 If you find honey, eat only what you need; for if you eat too much of it, you may throw it up;
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If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down.
17 so don't visit your neighbor too much, or he may get his fill of you and come to hate you.
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Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
18 Like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow is a person who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
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One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Relying on an untrustworthy person in a time of trouble is like [relying on] a broken tooth or an unsteady leg.
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Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.
20 Like removing clothes on a chilly day or like vinegar on soda is someone who sings songs to a heavy heart.
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Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
21 If someone who hates you is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
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If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
22 For you will heap fiery coals [of shame] on his head, and ADONAI will reward you.
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For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.
23 The north wind brings rain and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
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As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share the house with a nagging wife.
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It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25 Like cold water to a person faint from thirst is good news from a distant land.
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As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.
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Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.
27 It isn't good to eat too much honey or to seek honor after honor.
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It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.
28 Like a city breached, without walls, is a person who lacks self-control.
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He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.