New International Version NIV
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
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Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --
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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The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings 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 heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- [are] unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
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Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
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Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
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Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
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 [that] he hath said to thee, `Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes 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 to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9 If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,
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Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
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Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
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Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
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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A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
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 a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
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Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
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By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.
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Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
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Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated 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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A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
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A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
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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Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
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 he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
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For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
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A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
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Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
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[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report 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 spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
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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The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
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A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.