1
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These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah. |
2
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It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out. |
3
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The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out. |
4
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Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker. |
5
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Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness. |
6
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Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great: |
7
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For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler. |
8
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Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame? |
9
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Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another: |
10
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Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away. |
11
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A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver. |
12
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Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention. |
13
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As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master. |
14
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As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given. |
15
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A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken. |
16
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If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down. |
17
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Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate. |
18
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One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow. |
19
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Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot. |
20
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Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart. |
21
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If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water: |
22
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For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward. |
23
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As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly. |
24
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It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house. |
25
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As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country. |
26
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Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers. |
27
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It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured. |
28
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He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into. |