The Book of Proverbs

These [are] the proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out:

The glory of God [is] to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.

The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.

Take away the dross from the silver, and a vessel of the refiner's shall appear.

Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne is established in righteousness.

Do not honor yourself before a king, and do not stand in the place of the great.

For it is better he shall say to you, Come up here! than that you should be put lower before a noble whom your eyes have seen.

Do not go out to fight hastily, lest [you know not] what to do in the end of it, when your neighbor has put you to shame?

Contend for your cause with your neighbor, and do not uncover the secret of another,

lest he who hears put you to shame, and your slander have no end.

[As] a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover on a hearing ear.

Like the cold of snow in harvest time, [so is] a faithful messenger to those sending him, [for] he refreshes the soul of his masters.

A man boasting himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind, but with no rain.

In [being] slow to anger, a ruler is persuaded; and a soft tongue shatters the bone.

Have you found honey? Eat [only] your fill, lest you be satiated, and vomit it out.

Make your foot rare from your neighbor's house, lest he be full of you and hate you.

A man who gives false witness against his neighbor [is] a maul, and a sword and a sharp arrow.

Confidence in a treacherous man in time of distress [is like] a bad tooth and a slipping foot.

[As] he who takes away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar on soda, [so is] he who sings songs on an evil heart.

If your hater is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for you shall heap coals [of fire] on his head, and Jehovah shall reward you.

The north wind brings rain, so [does] a secret tongue an angry face.

[It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

[Like] cold waters to a weary soul, [so is] a good report from a far country.

The righteous falling down before the wicked [is like] a fouled fountain and a ruined spring.

[It is] not good to eat much honey, and to search out their glory [is not] glory.

A man to whom [there is] no control to his spirit [is like] a broken down city without a wall.