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1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
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3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
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4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
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5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
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6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
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7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
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8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
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9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
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10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
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11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
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12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
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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.
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14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
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15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
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16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
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17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
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18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
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19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
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21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
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22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
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23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
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24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
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25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
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26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
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27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
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28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
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- 1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.
- 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of 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 dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith;
- 5 Take away the wicked before the king, And his 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 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 hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you?
- 9 Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another,
- 10 Or he who hears it will reproach you, And the evil report about you will not pass away.
- 11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
- 12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
- 13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
- 14 Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
- 15 By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
- 16 Have you found honey? Eat only 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 weary of you and hate you.
- 18 Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
- 19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
- 20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.
- 21 If 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 the LORD will reward you.
- 23 The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
- 24 It is better 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 good news from a distant land.
- 26 Like a trampled spring and a 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 search out one's own glory.
- 28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.
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