| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. | 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: |
| 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; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. |
| 3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. | 3As the heavens are 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 a silversmith can produce a vessel; |
| 5take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. | 5remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. |
| 6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, | 6Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his 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 | 7it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes |
| 8do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? | 8do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? |
| 9Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, | 9If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence, |
| 10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. | 10or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. |
| 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. | 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. |
| 12Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. | 12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. |
| 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 a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. |
| 14Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. | 14Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never 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 gentle 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. | 16If you find honey, eat just enough-- too much of it, and you will vomit. |
| 17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. | 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-- too much of you, and they will 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 is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. |
| 19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. | 19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a 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 away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, 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; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. |
| 22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. | 22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. | 23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue--which provokes a horrified look. |
| 24It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. | 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house 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 soul 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 or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to 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 to search out matters that are too deep. |
| 28A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. | 28Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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