| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied: | 1These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied. |
| 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter. | 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. |
| 3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. | 3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated. |
| 4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge; | 4Remove impurities from silver, and a vessel will be produced for a silversmith. |
| 5remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. | 5Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. |
| 6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; | 6Don't brag about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great; |
| 7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen. | 7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!" than to demote you in plain view of a noble. |
| 8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? | 8Don't take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterward if your opponent humiliates you? |
| 9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person, | 9Make your case with your opponent without revealing another's secret; |
| 10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away. | 10otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you'll never live it down. |
| 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. | 11A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray. |
| 12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens. | 12A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold. |
| 13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters. | 13To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters. |
| 14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given. | 14The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain. |
| 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone. | 15A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. |
| 16When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up. | 16If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit. |
| 17Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you. | 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house; otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you. |
| 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness. | 18A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. |
| 19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble. | 19Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot. |
| 20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. | 20Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day or like pouring vinegar on soda. |
| 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, | 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; |
| 22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. | 22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look. | 23The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. |
| 24It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife. | 24Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. |
| 25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land. | 25Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat. |
| 26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked. | 26A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well. |
| 27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory. | 27It is not good to eat too much honey or to seek glory after glory. |
| 28Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper. | 28A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down. |
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