1 These also are the parables of Salomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda wrote out.
1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search the speech.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unscrutable.
3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
5 Take away impiety from the king's countenance, and his throne shall be established with justice.
5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
6 Appear not glorious before the king, and in the place of great men stand not.
6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
7 For it is better that it be said to thee: Come up hither, than that thou be humbled before the Prince.
7 For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
8 The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not quickly in a brawl: lest afterward thou canst not amend it, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
8 The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and reveal not a secret to a stranger:
9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
10 lest perhaps he insult against thee when he heareth, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver : which keep to thyself, lest thou become reproachful.
10 Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
11 Apples of gold in silver beds, he that speaketh a word in his time.
11 To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 Agolden earlet, and a shining precious stone, he that rebuketh a wiseman, and an obedient ear.
12 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the day of harvest, so a faithful legate to him that sent him, maketh his soul to rest.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
14 Clouds, and wind, and no rain following, a glorious man, and not accomplishing his promises.
14 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
15 By patience the Prince shall be pacified, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Thou hast found honey, eat that which sufficeth thee, lest perhaps being filled thou vomit it up.
16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest sometime having his fill he hate thee.
17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
18 Adart, and sword, and a sharp arrow, a man that speaketh false testimony against his neighbour.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Arotten tooth, and weary foot, he that hopeth upon the unfaithful in the day of distress,
19 To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,
20 and that loseth his cloak in the day of cold. Vinegar in nitre, he that singeth songs to a naughty heart. As a moth the garment, and a worm the wood: so the sadness of a man hurteth the heart.
20 And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.
21 If thine enemy shall hunger, give him meat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
22 for thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and our Lord will reward thee.
22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
23 The north-wind dissipateth rains, & a sad look the tongue that detracteth.
23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the house top, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
25 Cold water to a thirsty soul, and good tidings from a far country.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
26 Afountain troubled with the foot, and a vein corrupted, the just falling before the impious.
26 A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
27 As he that eateth much honey, it is not good for him: so he that is a searcher of the majesty, shall be oppressed of the glory.
27 As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
28 As a city being open and without compass of walls, so a man that cannot repress his spirit in speaking.
28 As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.