1
Also these be the Parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, translated.
2
The glory of God is to cover a word; and the glory of kings is to seek out a word. (The glory of God be those things which he hath hidden; and the glory of kings is to search them out.)
3
Heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. (The heavens be above, and the earth is beneath, and a king's heart is unsearchable.)
4
Do thou away rust from silver, and a full clean vessel shall go out.
5
Do thou away unpiety from the cheer of the king (Take thou away wicked persons from before the king), and his throne shall be made steadfast by rightfulness.
6
Appear thou not glorious before the king, and stand thou not in the place of great men.
7
For it is better, that it be said to thee, Ascend thou hither (Come thou up here), than that thou be made low before the prince.
8
Bring thou not forth soon those things in strife, which thine eyes saw; lest afterward thou mayest not amend, when thou hast made thy friend unhonest. (Bring thou not soon forth those things in strife, or an argument, which thine eyes saw; lest afterward thou cannot correct it, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.)
9
Treat thy cause with thy friend, and show thou not (a) private (matter) to a strange man;
10
lest peradventure he have joy of thy fall (lest perhaps he have joy over thy fall), when he hath heard (of it), and cease not to do shame to thee.