Hezekiah’s Collection
1 These too are proverbs of Solomon, q
which the men of King Hezekiah r of Judah copied.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter s
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
4 Remove impurities from silver, t
and material will be produced S for a silversmith. T,u
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, v
and his throne will be established in righteousness. w
6 Don’t boast about yourself before the king,
and don’t stand in the place of the great;
7 for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here! ”
than to demote you in plain view of a noble. U,x
8 Don’t take a matter to court hastily. y
Otherwise, what will you do afterward
if your opponent V humiliates you?
9 Make your case with your opponent
without revealing another’s secret; z
10 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you,
and you’ll never live it down. W
11 A word spoken at the right time
is like gold apples in silver settings. a
12 A wise correction to a receptive ear b
is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.
13 To those who send him, a trustworthy envoy
is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day;
he refreshes the life of his masters. c
14 The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist
is like clouds and wind without rain. d
15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone. e
16 If you find honey, f eat only what you need;
otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit. g
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house;
otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.
18 A person giving false testimony against his neighbor h
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. i
19 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time
is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot. j
20 Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda. X,k
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; l
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you. m
23 The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife. n
25 Good news from a distant land
is like cold water to a parched throat. Y,o
26 A righteous person who yields to the wicked p
is like a muddied spring or a polluted well. q
27 It is not good to eat too much honey r
or to seek glory after glory. Z,s
28 A person who does not control his temper t
is like a city whose wall is broken down. u