| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied: | 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: |
| 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; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. |
| 3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. | 3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. |
| 4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge; | 4Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; |
| 5remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. | 5remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. |
| 6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand 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 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. | 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 |
| 8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? | 8do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? |
| 9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person, | 9If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence, |
| 10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away. | 10or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. |
| 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. | 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. |
| 12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens. | 12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given. | 14Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. |
| 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone. | 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, 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 just enough-- too much of it, and you will 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-- too much of you, and they will 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. | 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. |
| 19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble. | 19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. |
| 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. | 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 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; 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. | 22In doing this, 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. | 23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue--which provokes a horrified look. |
| 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 a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. |
| 25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land. | 25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. |
| 26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked. | 26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. |
| 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, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. |
| 28Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper. | 28Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. |
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