| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. | 1These also 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 it is the glory of a king to search out 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 are unsearchable. |
| 4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. | 4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge; |
| 5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. | 5remove the wicked from before the king, 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: | 6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; |
| 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 put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen. |
| 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. | 8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? |
| 9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: | 9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person, |
| 10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. | 10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away. |
| 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. | 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. |
| 12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. | 12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens. |
| 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. | 13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters. |
| 14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. | 14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given. |
| 15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. | 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft 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. | 16When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up. |
| 17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. | 17Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you. |
| 18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. | 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness. |
| 19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. | 19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble. |
| 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. | 20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. |
| 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 coals of fire 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 brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look. |
| 24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. | 24It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife. |
| 25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. | 25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land. |
| 26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. | 26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked. |
| 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, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory. |
| 28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. | 28Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper. |
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