Comparisons and Moral Lessons
251 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. 3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; 5 remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; 7 it 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
8 do not bring[1] hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? 9 If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence, 10 or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.
11 Like apples[2] of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. 12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough- too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house- too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like 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.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue-which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
Comparisons and Moral Lessons
251 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.
2 It is God's privilege to conceal things and the king's privilege to discover them. 3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king's mind!
4 Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. 5 Remove the wicked from the king's court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.
6 Don't demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. 7 It'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,
8 don'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? 9 When arguing with your neighbor, don't betray another person's secret. 10 Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.
11 Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. 12 To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.
14 A person who promises a gift but doesn't give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15 Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.
16 Do you like honey? Don't eat too much, or it will make you sick!
17 Don't visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.
18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone's coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. 22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.
23 As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
24 It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
25 Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.
26 If the godly give in to the wicked, it's like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
27 It's not good to eat too much honey, and it's not good to seek honors for yourself.
28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
Comparisons and Moral Lessons
251 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For 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.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret [3] to another: 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly [4] spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As 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.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw [5] thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Comparisons and Moral Lessons
251 There are also these proverbs of Solomon, collected by scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things. 3 Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.
4 Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice; 5 Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.
6 Don't work yourself into the spotlight; don't push your way into the place of prominence. 7 It's better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted.
8 Don't jump to conclusions - there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw. 9 In the heat of an argument, don't betray confidences; 10 Word is sure to get around, and no one will trust you.
11 The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, 12 And a wise friend's timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.
13 Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat - refreshing!
14 Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces.
15 Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses. A Person Without Self-Control
16 When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick;
17 And when you find a friend, don't outwear your welcome; show up at all hours and he'll soon get fed up.
18 Anyone who tells lies against the neighbors in court or on the street is a loose cannon.
19 Trusting a double-crosser when you're in trouble is like biting down on an abscessed tooth.
20 Singing light songs to the heavyhearted is like pouring salt in their wounds.
21 If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he's thirsty, bring him a drink. 22 Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you.
23 A north wind brings stormy weather, and a gossipy tongue stormy looks.
24 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
25 Like a cool drink of water when you're worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend.
26 A good person who gives in to a bad person is a muddied spring, a polluted well.
27 It's not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you.
28 A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.