| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. | 1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied: |
| 2It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. | 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter. |
| 3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. | 3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. |
| 4Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; | 4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge; |
| 5take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. | 5remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. |
| 6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, | 6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; |
| 7for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen | 7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen. |
| 8do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? | 8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? |
| 9Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, | 9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person, |
| 10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. | 10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away. |
| 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. | 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. |
| 12Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. | 12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens. |
| 13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. | 13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters. |
| 14Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. | 14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given. |
| 15With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. | 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone. |
| 16If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. | 16When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up. |
| 17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. | 17Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you. |
| 18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. | 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness. |
| 19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. | 19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble. |
| 20Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. | 20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. |
| 21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, | 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, |
| 22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. | 22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. | 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look. |
| 24It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. | 24It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife. |
| 25Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. | 25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land. |
| 26Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. | 26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked. |
| 27It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. | 27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory. |
| 28A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. | 28Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper. |
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