| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: | 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; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. | 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. |
| 3As the heavens are 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 a silversmith can produce a vessel; | 4Remove impurities from silver, and a vessel will be produced for a silversmith. |
| 5remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. | 5Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. |
| 6Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; | 6Don't brag about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great; |
| 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 | 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 bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if 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? |
| 9If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence, | 9Make your case with your opponent without revealing another's secret; |
| 10or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. | 10otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you'll never live it down. |
| 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. | 11A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray. |
| 12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. | 12A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold. |
| 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. | 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 clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never 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 gentle tongue can break a bone. | 15A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. |
| 16If you find honey, eat just enough-- too much of it, and you will vomit. | 16If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit. |
| 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-- too much of you, and they will 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 is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. | 18A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. |
| 19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. | 19Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot. |
| 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. | 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; 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; |
| 22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. | 22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue--which provokes a horrified look. | 23The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. |
| 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house 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 soul 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 or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to 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 to search out matters that are too deep. | 27It is not good to eat too much honey or to seek glory after glory. |
| 28Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. | 28A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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