King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

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

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

2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be 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 thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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