As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth, so [is] the heart of kings--there is no searching.

Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].

Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand.

For better that he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than that he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken at the right time.

A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, Is the wise reprover to an attentive ear.

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

[Like] clouds and wind when there is no rain, [so too is] a man who boasts in a gift of deception.

In being slow to anger a ruler is won over, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.

A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful man in the day of trouble.

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.

As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

A righteous person who yields to the wicked
is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

A city being broken down, and not a wall, a man who restrains not to his spirit.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.

Like the sparrow [is] to fluttering and like the swallow [is] to flying, so an undeserved curse does not go forth.

Unto the horse belongeth a whip, to the Ass a bridle, and a rod to the fool's back.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

He is lame of his feet, yea drunken is he in vanity, that committeth any message to a fool.

Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

As one pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

that's what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, "I was joking, wasn't I?"

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

The words of a tale-bearer are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.

Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value]
Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.

When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him,
For seven abominations are in his heart.

Whoso keepeth evil will secretly, to do hurt, his malice shall be showed before the whole congregation.

Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Let another man give you praise, and not your mouth; one who is strange to you, and not your lips.

A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

Take his garment, for he gives surety [to] a stranger, and to {an adulteress}--[so] take his pledge.

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

Whoever attempts to restrain her [criticism] might as well try to stop the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.

As iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].

Whoso keepeth his fig tree, shall enjoy the fruits thereof; he that waiteth upon his master, shall come to honour.

As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

Though you crush a fool in a mortar and pestle as someone might crush grain, his stupidity still won't leave him.

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

The lambs shall clothe thee, and for the goats thou shalt have money to thy husbandry.

And a sufficiency of goats' milk is for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!

In the transgression of a land many its chiefs: and by a man understanding to know, the place shall be extended.

A man of wealth who is cruel to the poor is like a violent rain causing destruction of food.

Those who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him.

Evil men do not understand justice,
But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully.

Better [to be] poor and walking in one's integrity than to be crooked of ways when one [is] rich.

Whoso observeth the law is a son that hath understanding; but he that is a companion of profligates bringeth shame to his father.

He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance gathereth it for him that is gracious to the poor.

He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man],
Even his prayer is repulsive [to God].

Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

The man of wealth seems to himself to be wise, but the poor man who has sense has a low opinion of him.

When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times,
But he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.

The prince who has no sense is a cruel ruler; but he who has no desire to get profit for himself will have long life.

A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

He that walketh with integrity, shall be saved, but, he that is crooked, turning two ways, shall fall in one.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

He who says words of protest to a man will later have more approval than one who says smooth words with his tongue.

Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, 'It is not transgression,' A companion he is to a destroyer.

Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.

When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves;
But when the wicked perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become great.

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth.

By justice a king gives stability [to] a land, but a man of bribes will ruin it.

A man who says smooth things to his neighbour is stretching out a net for his steps.

The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

Men given to mockery, inflame a city, - but, wise men, turn away anger.

[If] a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, then there is rankling and ridicule, but there is no relief.

The bloodthirsty hate the blameless [because of his integrity],
But the upright are concerned for his life.

A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man holds it in check.

If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

A king who judges with truthfulness [to] the poor, his throne will be established forever.