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25 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied out:

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

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

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

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

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

for 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.

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

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, and disclose not a secret to another,

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

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

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

13 As the cold of snow at the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him, for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

14 Whoso boasteth himself of his gifts falsely is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By much forbearance is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of thee and so come to hate thee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26 As snow in summer and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.

As the bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he think himself wise in his own conceit.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh violence.

The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.

As a thorn pierceth into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 The great God who formed all things both rewardeth the fool and rewardeth transgressors.

11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The slothful man saith, “There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets!”

14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render an answer.

17 He that passeth by and meddleth in strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows and death,

19 so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor and saith, “Am I not in jest?”

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so, where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips and layeth up deceit within him;

25 when he speaketh fair believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation.

27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

27 Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.

Wrath is cruel and anger is outraging, but who is able to stand before envy?

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Faithful are the wounds from a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

The full soul loathes a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man who wandereth from his place.

Ointment and perfume make the heart rejoice; so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by counsel from the heart.

10 Thine own friend and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity; for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, but take a pledge from him for a strange woman.

14 He that, rising early in the morning, blesseth his friend with a loud voice: it shall be counted as a curse to him.

15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16 Whosoever would hide her would hide the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which betrayeth itself.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored.

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold, so is a man tried by praise.

22 Though thou shouldest grind a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds,

24 for riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure to every generation?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered;

26 the lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats pay the price of the field;

27 and thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food for thy household, and for the maintenance of thy maidens.

28 The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

For the transgression of a land, many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

They that forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.

Evil men understand not judgment, but they that seek the Lord understand all things.

Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son, but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way shall himself fall into his own pit, but the upright shall possess good things.

11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor man that hath understanding searcheth him out.

12 When righteous men rejoice, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

14 Happy is the man that feareth God always, but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.

15 As a roaring lion and a ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor, but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved, but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once!

19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

21 To have respect of persons is not good, for that man will transgress for a piece of bread.

22 He that hasteneth to be rich hath an evil eye and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

23 He that rebuketh a man shall afterwards find more favor than he that flattereth with his tongue.

24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother and saith, “It is no transgression,” the same is the companion of a destroyer.

25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife, but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall prosper.

26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool, but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.