1 ARST Here are more wise sayings said by Solomon that the scribes who served Hezekiah, the king of Judah, copied{ from a scroll that Solomon had written}: BSB BSB: These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
3 ARST As people cannot fully understand how high the sky is or how deep the earth is, so they cannot fully understand what kings think. BSB BSB: As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 ARST People who make things from metal must remove scum from silver before they can make{ that silver into} something. BSB BSB: Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 ARST { In the same way,} people must remove wicked advisers from the presence of kings before acting righteously causes kings to rule securely. BSB BSB: Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 ARST Do not promote yourself in front of kings, and do not pretend to be great. BSB BSB: Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 ARST { Do not do so} because it is better if someone invites you to come closer{ to a king}, than for someone to embarrass you in front of a royal official whom you have seen{ by telling you to move away from a king}. BSB BSB: for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 ARST Do not plead your case too quickly against someone you know. If you do, then you will not know what to do when that person{ wins the case and} embarrasses you! BSB BSB: do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 ARST If you do indeed plead your case against someone you know, then do not tell{ others} what is secret about that person. BSB BSB: Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 ARST If do you, then people may hear you and disgrace you, and people will continue to speak badly about you. BSB BSB: lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.
11 ARST What someone says aptly is{ as delightful as} golden apples that someone has set in silver. BSB BSB: A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 ARST When someone wisely rebukes someone who is willing to listen, it is{ as valuable as} a gold ring or jewelry made from the best gold. BSB BSB: Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 ARST Reliable messengers are as refreshing to those who sent them as cold snow at the time when people harvest crops; they refresh the people whom they serve. BSB BSB: Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 ARST People who brag about giving something that they never gave are as disappointing as clouds and wind that do not bring rain. BSB BSB: Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 ARST People can persuade leaders by acting patiently, and by speaking gently people can convince those who oppose them{ to agree with them}. BSB BSB: Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 ARST If you discover some wild honey, do not eat too much of it. If you do, then you will become sick and vomit. BSB BSB: If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 ARST { In the same way,} do not visit too often the houses of people you know. If you do, then they may become weary of you or{ even} hate you. BSB BSB: Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 ARST People who lie when they testify against people they know are{ deadly, like} a club, sword, or piercing arrow. BSB BSB: Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 ARST Trusting treacherous people during distressful times is{ as useless as having} a rotten tooth or a crippled foot. BSB BSB: Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 ARST Singing to someone who is sad is{ as unhelpful as} taking a coat off of someone in cold weather or pouring vinegar on soda. BSB BSB: Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 ARST Feed your enemies if they are hungry; give them something to drink if they are thirsty. BSB BSB: If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 ARST { Do so} because by doing so you{ will shame them, as if you} are pouring burning coals on top of them, and Yahweh will reward you{ for doing so}. BSB BSB: For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 ARST When wind blows from the north, rain will fall. In the same way, when people tell the secrets of others, people get angry. BSB BSB: As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 ARST It is better to live{ alone} in a corner of a housetop than to live inside a house with a wife who always argues{ with you}. BSB BSB: Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 ARST When people hear something good from a faraway place, it is as{ refreshing as drinking} cold water when you are thirsty. BSB BSB: Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 ARST When righteous people yield to wicked people, it is{ as bad as} a spring that people have made murky by walking in it or{ as bad as} a polluted fountain. BSB BSB: Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 ARST { As} it is very bad to eat too much honey; so it is dishonorable to try to make people honor you. BSB BSB: It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 ARST People who cannot control themselves are{ as defenseless as} a city that an army has broken into and knocked down its walls. BSB BSB: Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.