English Standard Version

King James Bible

1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

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 thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel;

4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great,

6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not 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 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.

8do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?

8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret,

9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.

10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient 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.

13As 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.

14Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

20Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.

20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

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

21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

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

22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

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

23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

27It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.

27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.