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¹ These also, are proverbs of Solomon, - which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.

² The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.³ The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:⁵ Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.

⁶ Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;⁷ For better it be said to thee, Come up hither, - than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.

⁸ Do not go forth to strive in haste, - lest thou know not what to do in the latter end thereof, when thy neighbour, hath put thee to shame.⁹ Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:¹⁰ Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.

¹¹ Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.¹² A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.

¹³ As the cold of snow in the day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, - when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.

¹⁴ Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.

¹⁵ By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.

¹⁶ Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.

¹⁷ Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, - lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

¹⁸ A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.

¹⁹ A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.

²⁰ As splendour of dress on a cold day - vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.

²¹ If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;²² For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, - and, Yahweh, will repay thee.

²³ A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.

²⁴ Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.

²⁵ As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.

²⁶ A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.

²⁷ To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.

²⁸ A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.