| King James Bible | Holman 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 Hezekiah, king 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 heaven is 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 a vessel 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 brag 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 on a silver tray. |
| 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 messenger 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 man 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 man 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 man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down. |
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