1 These are also Prouerbes of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Iudah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceale a thing: but the honour of Kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heauen for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of Kings is vnsearchable.
4 Take away the drosse from the siluer, and there shall come foorth a vessell for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shalbe established in righteousnes.
6 Put not forth thy selfe in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
7 For better it is that it be said vnto thee, Come vp hither; then that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the Prince whom thine eies haue seene.
8 Goe not forth hastily to striue, lest thou know not what to doe in the ende thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himselfe; and discouer not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth it, put thee to shame, and thine infamie turne not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of siluer.
12 As an eare-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprouer vpon an obedient eare.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of haruest, so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him: for hee refresheth the soule of his masters.
14 Who so boasteth himselfe of a false gift, is like cloudes and winde without raine.
15 By long forbearing is a Prince perswaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found hony? eate so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foote from thy neighbours house: lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is a maule, and a sword, and a sharpe arrow.
19 Confidence in an vnfaithfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of ioynt.
20 As hee that taketh away a garment in cold weather; and as vineger vpon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to an heauy heart.
21 If thine enemie be hungry, giue him bread to eate: and if hee be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.
22 For thou shalt heape coales of fire vpon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
23 The North winde driueth away raine: so doeth an angrie countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a brawling woman, and in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirstie soule: so is good newes from a farre countrey.
26 A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is as a troubled fountaine, aud a corrupt spring.
27 It is not good to eat much hony: so for men to search their owne glory, is not glory.
28 Hee that hath no rule ouer his owne spirit, is like a citie that is broken downe, and without walles.
Chap 26
1 As snow in summer, and as raine in haruest: so honour is not seemely for a foole.
2 As the bird by wandring, as the swallow by flying: so the curse causelesse shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the asse; and a rod for the fooles backe.
4 Answere not a foole according to his folly, lest thou also be like vnto him.
5 Answere a foole according to his folly, lest hee be wise in his owne conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole, cutteth off the feete, and drinketh dammage.
7 The legges of the lame are not equall: so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
8 As hee that bindeth a stone in a sling; so is hee that giueth honour to a foole.
9 As a thorne goeth vp into the hand of a drunkard; so is a parable in the mouth of fooles.
10 The great God that formed all things, both rewardeth the foole, and rewardeth transgressours.
11 As a dogge returneth to his vomite: so a foole returneth to his folly.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his owne conceit? there is more hope of a foole then of him.
13 The slothfull man sayth, There is a lion in the way, a lion is in the streets.
14 As the doore turneth vpon his hinges: so doeth the slothfull vpon his bedde.
15 The slothfull hideth his hand in his bosome, it grieueth him to bring it againe to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceit, then seuen men that can render a reason.
17 He that passeth by, and medleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the eares.
18 As a mad man, who casteth firebrands, arrowes, and death:
19 So is the man that deceiueth his neighbour, & sayth, Am not I in sport?
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 As coales are to burning coales, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a tale-bearer are as woundes, and they goe downe into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips, and a wicked heart, are like a potsheard couered with siluer drosse.
24 Hee that hateth, dissembleth with his lips, and layeth vp deceit within him.
25 When he speaketh faire, beleeue him not: for there are seuen abominations in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is couered by deceit, his wickednesse shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit, shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will returne vpon him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruine.
Chap 27
1 Boast not thy selfe of to morrow: for thou knowest not what a day may bring foorth.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine owne mouth; a stranger, and not thine owne lips.
3 A stone is heauie, and the sand weightie: but a fooles wrath is heauier then them both.
4 Wrath is cruell, and anger is outragious: but who is able to stand before enuie?
5 Open rebuke is better then secret loue.
6 Faithfull are the woundes of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are deceitfull.
7 The full soule loatheth an honie combe: but to the hungry soule euery bitter thing is sweete.
8 As a bird that wandreth from her nest: so is a man that wandreth from his place.
9 Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart: so doeth the sweetnesse of a mans friend by heartie counsell.
10 Thine owne friend and thy fathers friend forsake not; neither goe in to thy brothers house in the day of thy calamitie: for better is a neighbour that is neere, then a brother farre off.
11 My sonne, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answere him that reprocheth me.
12 A prudent man foreseeth the euil, and hideth himselfe: but the simple passe on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising earely in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continuall dropping in a very rainie day, and a contentious woman, are alike.
16 Whosoeuer hideth her, hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which be wrayeth it selfe.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoso keepeth the figtree, shall eate the fruit therof: so he that waiteth on his master, shall be honoured.
19 As in water face answereth to face: so the heart of man to man.
20 Hell and destruction are neuer full: so the eyes of man are neuer satisfied.
21 As the fining pot for siluer, and the furnace for gold: so is a man to his praise.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a foole in a morter among wheate with a pestell, yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him.
23 Be thou diligent to knowe the state of thy flocks, and looke well to thy herds.
24 For riches are not for euer: and doth the crowne endure to euery generation?
25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grasse sheweth it selfe, and herbes of the mountaines are gathered.
26 The lambes are for thy clothing, and the goates are the price of thy field.
27 And thou shalt haue goats milke enough for thy food, for the food of thy houshold, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).