| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. | 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: |
| 2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. | 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. |
| 3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. | 3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. |
| 4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. | 4Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; |
| 5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. | 5remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. |
| 6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: | 6Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; |
| 7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. | 7it 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 |
| 8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. | 8do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? |
| 9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: | 9If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence, |
| 10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. | 10or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. |
| 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. | 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. |
| 12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. | 12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. |
| 13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. | 13Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. |
| 14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. | 14Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. |
| 15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. | 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. |
| 16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. | 16If you find honey, eat just enough-- too much of it, and you will vomit. |
| 17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. | 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-- too much of you, and they will hate you. |
| 18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. | 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. |
| 19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. | 19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. |
| 20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. | 20Like 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. |
| 21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: | 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. |
| 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. | 22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. | 23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue--which provokes a horrified look. |
| 24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. | 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. |
| 25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. | 25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. |
| 26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. | 26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. |
| 27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. | 27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. |
| 28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. | 28Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. |
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