More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These also are mproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

2  It is the glory of God to nconceal things,

but the glory of kings is to osearch things out.

3  As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

so the heart of kings is punsearchable.

4  Take away qthe dross from the silver,

and rthe smith has material for a vessel;

5  take away sthe wicked from the presence of the king,

and his tthrone will be established in righteousness.

6  Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence

or stand in the place of the great,

7  for uit is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen

8  wdo not hastily bring into court,1

for2 what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9  xArgue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another’s secret,

10  lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

11  yA word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

12  Like za gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise reprover to aa listening ear.

13  Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is ba faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14  Like cclouds and wind without rain

is a man who dboasts of a gift he does not give.

15  With epatience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

16  If you have ffound honey, eat gonly enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

17  Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

18  A man who hbears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or ia sword, or a sharp arrow.

19  Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

20  Whoever jsings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

21  kIf your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22  for you will heap lburning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23  The north wind brings forth rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24  mIt is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

25  Like cold water to na thirsty soul,

so is ogood news from a far country.

26  Like pa muddied spring or a polluted fountain

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27  It is qnot good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to rseek one’s own glory.3

28  A man swithout self-control

is like ta city broken into and left without walls.

The Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2  What are you doing, my son?1 What are you doing, fson of my womb?

What are you doing, gson of my vows?

3  Do hnot give your strength to women,

your ways to those iwho destroy kings.

4  jIt is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings kto drink wine,

or for rulers to take lstrong drink,

5  lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

and mpervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6  Give strong drink to the one who nis perishing,

and wine to othose in bitter distress;2

7  plet them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8  qOpen your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.3

9  Open your mouth, rjudge righteously,

sdefend the rights of tthe poor and needy.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10  4 uAn excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than vjewels.

11  The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

12  She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

13  She wseeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

14  She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

15  She xrises while it is yet night

and yprovides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

16  She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17  She zdresses herself5 with strength

and makes her arms strong.

18  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19  She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

20  She aopens her hand to bthe poor

and reaches out her hands to bthe needy.

21  She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in cscarlet.6

22  She makes dbed coverings for herself;

her clothing is efine linen and fpurple.

23  Her husband is known in gthe gates

when he sits among the elders of the land.

24  She makes hlinen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25  iStrength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26  She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27  She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28  Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29  “Many jwomen have done kexcellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30  lCharm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31  Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.