| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: | 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah. |
| 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. | 2It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. |
| 3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. | 3No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind! |
| 4Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; | 4Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. |
| 5remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. | 5Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice. |
| 6Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; | 6Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. |
| 7it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes | 7It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace. Just because you’ve seen something, |
| 8do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? | 8don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat? |
| 9If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence, | 9When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret. |
| 10or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. | 10Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation. |
| 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. | 11Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. |
| 12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. | 12To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. |
| 13Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. | 13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer. |
| 14Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. | 14A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. |
| 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. | 15Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones. |
| 16If you find honey, eat just enough-- too much of it, and you will vomit. | 16Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! |
| 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-- too much of you, and they will hate you. | 17Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome. |
| 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. | 18Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow. |
| 19Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. | 19Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot. |
| 20Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. | 20Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound. |
| 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. | 21If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. |
| 22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. | 22You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue--which provokes a horrified look. | 23As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! |
| 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. | 24It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. |
| 25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. | 25Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty. |
| 26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. | 26If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. |
| 27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. | 27It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself. |
| 28Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. | 28A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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