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Analogies of Wisdom

¹ These also are ^(C1)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

² It is the glory of God to ^(C1)conceal a matter,
But the glory of ^(C2)kings is to search out a matter.

³ As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the ^(C1)dross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the ^(C2)smith;

⁵ Take away the ^(C1)wicked before the king,
And his ^(C2)throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶ Do not promote your majesty in the presence of the king,
And in the place of great men do not stand;

⁷ For ^(C1)it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here,"
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of a noble,
Whom your eyes have seen.

⁸ Do not go out ^(C1)hastily to plead your case;
Lest, what will you do in ^(F1)the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?

^9 (C1)Plead your case with your neighbor,
And ^(C2)do not reveal the secret of another,

¹⁰ Lest he who hears it bring disgrace upon you,
And the bad report about you will not turn away.

¹¹ Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a ^(C1)word spoken in ^(F1)right circumstances.

¹² Like ^(F1)an ^(C1)earring of gold and an ^(C2)ornament of ^(C3)fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a ^(C4)listening ear.

¹³ Like the cold of snow in the ^(F1)time of harvest
Is a ^(C1)faithful envoy to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴ Like ^(C1)clouds and ^(C2)wind without rain
Is a man who boasts ^(F1)of his gifts falsely.

^15 (C1)When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

¹⁶ Have you ^(C1)found honey? Eat only enough for you,
Lest you have more than your fill and vomit it.

¹⁷ Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor's house,
Lest he have more than his fill of you and hate you.

¹⁸ Like a club and a ^(C1)sword and a sharp ^(C2)arrow
Is a man who bears ^(F1)(C3)false witness against his neighbor.

¹⁹ Like ^(F1)an aching tooth and a slipping foot
Is trust in a ^(C1)treacherous man in a day of distress.

²⁰ Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on ^(F1)soda,
Is he who sings songs to ^(F2)an aching heart.

^21 (C1)If ^(F1)your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

²² For you will ^(F1)heap burning coals on his head,
And ^(C1)Yahweh will repay you.

²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
And a ^(C1)tongue of secrets, an indignant face.

²⁴ It is ^(C1)better to live in a corner of the roof
Than ^(F1)in a house shared with a contentious woman.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is a ^(C1)good report from a distant land.

²⁶ Like a ^(C1)muddied spring and a corrupted well
Is a righteous man shaking before the wicked.

²⁷ To eat too much honey is not good,
Nor is it glory to ^(C1)search out ^(F1)one's own glory.

²⁸ Like a ^(C1)city that is broken into and without a wall
Is a man ^(C2)without restraint over his spirit.