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¹ These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

² [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings [is] to search out a matter.³ The heaven for hight, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.⁵ Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]:⁷ For better [it is] that it be said to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself]; and reveal not a secret to another:¹⁰ Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thy infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver.¹² [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

¹⁴ Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.

¹⁵ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

¹⁶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.

¹⁷ Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.

¹⁸ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰ [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre; so [is] he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink:²² For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.

²³ The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

²⁴ [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

²⁵ [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country.

²⁶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.

²⁷ [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.

²⁸ He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.