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Similitudes, Instructions

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 claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;

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 the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

⁸ Do not go out ^(C1)hastily to ^(F1)argue your case;
^(F2)Otherwise, what will you do in ^(F3)the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?

^9 (F1)(C1)Argue your case with your neighbor,
And ^(C2)do not reveal the secret of another,

¹⁰ Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not ^(F1)pass 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 messenger 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 By ^(F1)(C1)forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

¹⁶ Have you ^(C1)found honey? Eat only ^(F1)what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.

¹⁷ Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor's house,
Or he will become ^(F1)weary of you and hate you.

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

¹⁹ Like a bad tooth and ^(F1)an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a ^(C1)faithless man in time of trouble.

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)a troubled 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)the LORD will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
And a ^(F1)(C1)backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

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 ^(C1)good news from a distant land.

²⁶ Like a ^(C1)trampled spring and a ^(F1)polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

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

²⁸ Like a ^(C1)city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man ^(C2)who has no control over his spirit.