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 honour of kings is to search out
a matter.
3 The heaven for height,
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 unto
thee,
Come up hither;
than that thou shouldest be put lower
in the presence of the prince whom thine
eyes have seen.
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.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour
himself;
and discover not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to
shame,
and thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of
gold
in pictures of silver.
12 As an earring 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 Whoso 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 therewith, and vomit
it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy
neighbour's house;
lest he be weary of thee,
and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness
against his neighbour
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 an heavy
heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry,
give him bread to eat;
and if he be thirsty, give him water to
drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire
upon his head,
and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain:
so doth an angry countenance a
backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner
of the housetop,
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 troubled 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.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
King James Version of 1611
