New Living Translation NLT
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.
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Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --
2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
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The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
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The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- [are] unsearchable.
4 Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
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Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.
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Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great.
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Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
7 It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace. Just because you’ve seen something,
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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 don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
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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 When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret.
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Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10 Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.
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Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11 Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
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Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
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A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.
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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 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
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Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.
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By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
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Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.
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Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
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A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
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A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.
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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 enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them 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 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, 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 As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
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A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces.
24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
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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 Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.
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[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26 If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
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A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27 It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
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The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour.
28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
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A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!