More Proverbs of Solomon 1 UST 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 UST 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 UST People who make things from metal must remove impurities from silver before they can make{ that silver into} something useful. BSB BSB: Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 UST { In the same way,} people must remove wicked advisers from the presence of kings so that they can rule securely by being righteous. BSB BSB: Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 UST 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 UST { Do not do so} because it is better if someone invites you to sit in a place that is closer{ to the king}, than for someone to embarrass you in front of a royal official whom you have seen{ by telling you to sit farther away from the 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 UST 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 UST If you do indeed plead your case against someone you know,{ settle it between yourselves and} do not tell{ others} any secret about that person. BSB BSB: Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 UST If you do{ tell a secret}, then the people who hear you may shame you{ for it}, and people will speak badly about you from then on. BSB BSB: lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.
11 UST When someone says something that is very appropriate to a situation, it is{ as delightful as seeing} golden apples in a setting of silver. BSB BSB: A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 UST When a wise person 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 UST Reliable messengers are{ as refreshing} to those who send them as cold snow would be{ refreshing} during the{ summer} harvest time; 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 UST People who brag about giving something but then do not give it 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 UST People can persuade leaders by being patient, 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 UST If you discover some wild honey, do not eat too much of it. If you do, then you will become sick from it and vomit. BSB BSB: If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 UST { In the same way,} do not visit too often the houses of your friends. If you do, then they may feel that they have had too much of you and{ even} hate you. BSB BSB: Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 UST People who lie when they testify against other people are{ deadly, as if they had attacked them with} a club, a sword, or a piercing arrow. BSB BSB: Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 UST Trusting treacherous people during distressful times is{ like trying to eat with} a rotten tooth or{ trying to walk with} 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 UST Singing songs 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 UST 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 UST { Do so} because by doing so you{ will shame them, as if you} were 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 UST When wind blows from the north, that produces rain.{ Similarly,} when people tell the secrets{ of others},{ that produces} angry people. BSB BSB: As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 UST 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 UST When people hear something good from a faraway place, it is as{ refreshing as drinking} cold water when one is thirsty. BSB BSB: Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 UST 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 UST { As} it is not good to eat too much honey;{ so it is not} honorable 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 UST 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.