New International Version NIV
Orthodox Jewish Bible OJB
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
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5 These are also mishlei Sh’lomo, which the anashim of Chizkiyah Melech Yehudah copied out:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
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It is the Kavod Elohim to conceal a thing, but the kavod melachim is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
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The Shomayim for height, and Eretz for depth, so the lev melachim is unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
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Take away the dross from the kesef, and there shall come forth a vessel for the tzoref (silversmith);
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
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Take away the rasha from before Melech, and his kisse shall be established in tzedek.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
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Do not exalt thyself in the presence of Melech, and stand not in the makom (place) of gedolim;
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes
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For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up here, than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the noble whom thine eynayim have seen.
8 do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
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Go not forth hastily to bring a lawsuit, lest thou know not what to do in the acharit thereof, when thy re’a hath put thee to shame.
9 If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,
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Plead thy cause with thy re’a himself; and betray not a sod (confidence) to another,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
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Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and the evil report of thee never depart.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
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A word aptly spoken is like tapukhim (apples) of zahav in settings of kesef.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
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As a nezem (earring) of zahav, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a mochi’ach chacham (a wise reprover) upon an obedient ozen.
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
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As the cold of sheleg (snow) in the yom katzir (day of harvest), so is a tzir ne’eman (faithful envoy) to them that send him; for he refresheth the nefesh of his adonim.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
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He who boasteth falsely of giving is like clouds and ruach (wind) without geshem (rain).
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
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By forbearance is a katzin (ruler) persuaded, and a gentle lashon breaketh the bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
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Hast thou found devash? Eat only as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it out.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
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Let thy regel (foot) seldom be in thy neighbor’s bais; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
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An ish that beareth ed sheker (false witness) against his re’a is a club, and a cherev, and a sharp khetz (arrow).
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
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Confidence in a boged in the yom tzarah is like a shen ra’ah (bad tooth), and a regel out of joint.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
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As he that taketh away a beged (garment) on a cold day, and as chometz (vinegar) upon lye, so is he that singeth shirim (songs) to a lev rah (heavy heart, i.e., depressed person).
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
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If thine enemy be hungry, give him lechem to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him mayim to drink;
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
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For so shalt thou heap hot coals upon his rosh, and Hashem shall reward thee.
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
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The ruach tzafon (north wind) brings forth geshem; so doth a lashon seter (backbiting tongue) bring an angry countenance.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
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It is better to dwell in the corner of the gag (roof), than in a bais shared with a quarrelsome isha.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
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As cold mayim to a weary nefesh, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
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A tzaddik who falters before the rasha is like a muddy spring, and a polluted makor (fountain).
27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
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It is not tov to eat much devash; so for men to seek their own kavod is not glory.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
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He that hath no rule over his own ruach is like an ir that is broken down, and without a chomah (wall).
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The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.