Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah, copied.

1These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.

2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.

2It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.

3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

3No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!

4Remove impurities from silver, and material will be produced for a silversmith.

4Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.

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

5Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.

6Don't boast about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great;

6Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great.

7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!" than to demote you in plain view of a noble.

7It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace. Just because you’ve seen something,

8Don't take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterward if your opponent humiliates you?

8don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

9Make your case with your opponent without revealing another's secret;

9When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret.

10otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you'll never live it down.

10Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.

11A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.

11Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.

12A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

12To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

13To those who send him, a trustworthy envoy is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters.

13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.

14The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain.

14A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

15A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

15Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.

16If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit.

16Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!

17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house; otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you.

17Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.

18A person giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

18Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

19Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.

19Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.

20Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day or like pouring vinegar on soda.

20Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

21If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.

22for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

22You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.

23The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

23As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

24Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

24It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

25Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat.

25Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.

26A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.

26If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

27It is not good to eat too much honey or to seek glory after glory.

27It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.

28A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.

28A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.