| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah. | 1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied: |
| 2It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. | 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter. |
| 3No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind! | 3As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. |
| 4Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. | 4Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge; |
| 5Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice. | 5remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. |
| 6Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. | 6Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; |
| 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, | 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. |
| 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? | 8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? |
| 9When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret. | 9When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person, |
| 10Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation. | 10lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away. |
| 11Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. | 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. |
| 12To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. | 12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens. |
| 13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer. | 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. |
| 14A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. | 14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given. |
| 15Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones. | 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone. |
| 16Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! | 16When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up. |
| 17Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome. | 17Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you. |
| 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. | 18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness. |
| 19Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot. | 19Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble. |
| 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. | 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 your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. | 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, |
| 22You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you. | 22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. |
| 23As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! | 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look. |
| 24It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. | 24It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife. |
| 25Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty. | 25Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land. |
| 26If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. | 26Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked. |
| 27It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself. | 27It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory. |
| 28A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down 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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