Analogies of Wisdom
These also are aproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
2 It is the glory of God to aconceal a matter,
But the glory of bkings 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 adross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the bsmith;
5 Take away the awicked before the king,
And his bthrone 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 ait 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 ahastily to plead your case;
Lest, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
9 aPlead your case with your neighbor,
And bdo 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 aword spoken in right circumstances.
12 Like an aearring of gold and an bornament of cfine gold
Is a wise reprover to a dlistening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
Is a afaithful envoy to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like aclouds and bwind without rain
Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
15 aWhen one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you afound 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 asword and a sharp barrow
Is a man who bears cfalse witness against his neighbor.
19 Like an aching tooth and a slipping foot
Is trust in a atreacherous man in a day of distress.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
Is he who sings songs to an aching heart.
21 aIf your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And aYahweh will repay you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And a atongue of secrets, an indignant face.
24 It is abetter to live in a corner of the roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is a agood report from a distant land.
26 Like a amuddied 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 asearch out one’s own glory.
28 Like a acity that is broken into and without a wall
Is a man bwithout restraint over his spirit.