| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied. | 1These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: |
| 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. | 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out. |
| 3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated. | 3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched. |
| 4Remove impurities from silver, and a vessel will be produced for a silversmith. | 4Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth. |
| 5Remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. | 5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. |
| 6Don't brag about yourself before the king, and don't stand in the place of the great; | 6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; |
| 7for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here!" than to demote you in plain view of a noble. | 7for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes, |
| 8Don't take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterward if your opponent humiliates you? | 8do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame? |
| 9Make your case with your opponent without revealing another's secret; | 9Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence, |
| 10otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you'll never live it down. | 10lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away. |
| 11A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray. | 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. |
| 12A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold. | 12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. |
| 13To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters. | 13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. |
| 14The man who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain. | 14Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given. |
| 15A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. | 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. |
| 16If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you'll get sick from it and vomit. | 16If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up. |
| 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house; otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you. | 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you. |
| 18A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. | 18Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. |
| 19Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot. | 19Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. |
| 20Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day or like pouring vinegar on soda. | 20Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. |
| 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food 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 in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. | 23As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks. |
| 24Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. | 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife. |
| 25Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat. | 25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. |
| 26A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well. | 26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked. |
| 27It is not good to eat too much honey or to seek glory after glory. | 27It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory. |
| 28A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down. | 28Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper. |
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