The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
King James Version KJV
1 These also are proverbs of Shlomo; the men of Hizkiyah king of Y'hudah copied them out:
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These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 God gets glory from concealing things; kings get glory from investigating things.
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It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Like the sky for height or the earth for depth is the heart of kings - unfathomable.
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The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Remove the impurities from the silver, and the smith has material to make a vessel.
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Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will rest firmly on righteousness.
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Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established 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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Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
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 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 have seen.
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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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 Discuss your dispute with your neighbor, but don't reveal another person's secrets.
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Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 If you do, and he hears of it, he will disgrace you, and your bad reputation will stick.
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Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word appropriately spoken.
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A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 Like a gold earring, like a fine gold necklace is a wise reprover to a receptive ear.
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As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
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 harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind that bring no rain is he who boasts of gifts he never gives.
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Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 With patience a ruler may be won over, and a gentle tongue can break bones.
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By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
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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Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
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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Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 Like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow is a person who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
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A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, 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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Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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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As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy 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 thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For you will heap fiery coals [of shame] on his head, and ADONAI will reward you.
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For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 The north wind brings rain and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
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The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
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 dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and 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 waters to a thirsty 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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A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
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 eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 Like a city breached, without walls, is a person who lacks self-control.
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He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The King James Version is in the public domain.