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More Wise Sayings From Solomon

¹ These are some more wise sayings from Solomon. These proverbs were copied by servants of Hezekiah, the king of Judah.

² We honor God for the things he keeps secret. But we honor kings for the things they can discover.

³ We cannot discover how high the sky is above us or how deep the earth is below. The same is true with the minds of kings. We cannot understand them.

⁴ Remove the worthless things from silver to make it pure, and a worker can make something beautiful. ⁵ Take the evil advisors away from a king, and goodness will make his kingdom strong.

⁶ Don't brag about yourself before the king and pretend you are someone important. ⁷ It is much better for the king to invite you to take a more important position than to embarrass you in front of his officials.

⁸ Don't be too quick to tell a judge about something you saw. You will be embarrassed if someone else proves you wrong.

⁹ If you want to tell your friends about your own problems, tell them. But don't discuss what someone told you in private. ¹⁰ Whoever hears it will lose their respect for you and will never trust you again.

¹¹ Saying the right thing at the right time is like a golden apple in a silver setting. ¹² Wise advice to a listening ear is like gold earrings or fine jewelry.

¹³ To his master who sent him, a messenger who can be trusted is as refreshing as a drink of cold water on a hot summer day.^[a]

¹⁴ People who promise to give gifts but never give them are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

¹⁵ With patience, you can make anyone change their thinking, even a ruler. Gentle speech is very powerful.

¹⁶ Honey is good, but don't eat too much of it, or you will be sick. ¹⁷ And don't visit your neighbors' homes too often, or they will begin to hate you.

¹⁸ A person who gives false testimony against a neighbor is as deadly as a club, a sword, or a very sharp arrow. ¹⁹ Never depend on a liar in times of trouble. It's like chewing with a bad tooth or walking with a crippled foot.

²⁰ Singing happy songs to a sad person is as foolish as taking a coat off on a cold day or mixing soda and vinegar.

²¹ If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. If they are thirsty, give them some water. ²² This will make them feel the burning pain of shame,^[b] and the Lord will reward you for being good to them.

²³ Just as wind blowing from the north brings rain, telling secrets brings anger.

²⁴ It is better to live in a small corner of the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing.

²⁵ Good news from a faraway place is like a cool drink of water when you are hot and thirsty.

²⁶ Good people who don't stand strong against evil are like springs that have been polluted or pools that have turned dirty and muddy.

²⁷ Just as eating too much honey is not good, it is not good for people to always be looking for honor.

²⁸ People who cannot control themselves are like cities without walls to protect them.