² God is honored for what he keeps secret.
    Kings are honored for what they can discover.

³ No one can measure the height of the skies or the depth of the earth.
    So also no one can understand the mind of a king.

⁴ Remove the scum from the silver.
    Then the silver can be used by the silversmith.
⁵ Remove wicked people from the king’s presence.
    Then his government will be honest and last a long time.

⁶ Don’t brag to the king.
    Don’t act as if you are a great man.
⁷ It is better for him to promote you to a higher job
    than to give you a less important position.

Because of something you have seen,
⁸     do not quickly take someone to court.
What will you do later
    when your neighbor proves you are wrong?

⁹ If you have an argument with your neighbor,
    don’t tell other people what was said.
¹⁰ Whoever hears it might say bad things about you.
    And you might not ever be respected again.

¹¹ The right word spoken at the right time
    is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl.

¹² The warning of a wise person is valuable to someone who will listen.
    It is worth as much as gold earrings or fine gold jewelry.

¹³ A trustworthy messenger refreshes those who send him.
    He is like the coolness of snow in the summertime.

¹⁴ People who brag about gifts they never give
    are like clouds and wind that give no rain.

¹⁵ With patience you can convince a ruler.
    And a gentle word can get through to the hard-headed.

¹⁶ If you find honey, don’t eat too much.
    Too much of it will make you sick.
¹⁷ Don’t go to your neighbor’s house too often.
    Too much of you will make him hate you.

¹⁸ Anyone who lies about his neighbor
    hurts him as a club, a sword or a sharp arrow would.

¹⁹ Don’t trust unfaithful people when you are in trouble.
    It’s like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot.

²⁰ Don’t sing songs to someone who is sad.
    It’s like taking off a coat on a cold day
    or pouring vinegar on soda.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
    If he is thirsty, give him a drink.
²² Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head.
    And the Lord will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings rain.
    In the same way, telling gossip brings angry looks.

²⁴ It is better to live in a corner on the roof^[a]
    than inside the house with a quarreling wife.

²⁵ Hearing good news from a faraway place
    is like having a cool drink when you are tired.

²⁶ A good person who gives in to evil
    is like a muddy spring or a dirty well.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey.
    In the same way, it is not good to brag about yourself.

²⁸ A person who does not control himself
    is like a city whose walls have been broken down.