More proverbs of Solomon

¹ These are also proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah:

² It is the glory of God to hide something and the glory of kings to discover something.

³ Like the high heavens and the depths of the earth, so the mind of a king is unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel will come out for the refiner.

⁵ Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶ Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or stand in the place of important people,

⁷ because it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” than to be demoted before a ruler. What your eyes see,

⁸ don’t be quick to quarrel over; what will you do in the future when your neighbor shames you?

⁹ Argue it out with your neighbor, and don’t give away someone’s secret.

¹⁰ Otherwise, the one who hears it will vilify you; the slander against you will never stop.

¹¹ Words spoken at the right time are like gold apples in a silver setting.

¹² Wise correction to an ear that listens is like a gold earring or jewelry of fine gold.

¹³ Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day are reliable messengers to those who send them; they restore the life of their master.

¹⁴ People who brag about a gift never given are like clouds and wind that produce no rain.

¹⁵ A commander can be persuaded with patience, and a tender tongue can break a bone.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just the right amount; otherwise, you’ll get full and vomit it up.

¹⁷ Don’t spend too much time in your neighbor’s house. Otherwise, they’ll get fed up with you and hate you.

¹⁸ People who testify falsely against their neighbors are like a club, sword, and sharpened arrow.

¹⁹ Trusting a treacherous person at a difficult time is like having a bad tooth or a wobbly foot.

²⁰ Singing a song to a troubled heart is like taking off a garment on a cold day or putting vinegar on a wound.

²¹ If your enemies are starving, feed them some bread; if they are thirsty, give them water to drink.

²² By doing this, you will heap burning coals on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.

²³ The north wind stirs up rain, and a person who plots quietly provokes angry faces.

²⁴ Better to live on the edge of a roof than to share a house with a contentious woman.

²⁵ Good news from a distant land is like cold water for a weary person.

²⁶ A righteous person giving in to the wicked is like a contaminated spring or a polluted fountain.

²⁷ Eating too much honey isn’t good, nor is it appropriate to seek honor.

²⁸ A person without self-control is like a breached city, one with no walls.