More Proverbs of Solomon
1These are more proverbs of Solomon. They were gathered together by the men of Hezekiah, the king of Judah.
2When God hides a matter, he gets glory.
When kings figure out a matter, they get glory.
3The heavens are high and the earth is deep.
In the same way, the minds of kings are impossible to figure out.
4Remove the scum from the silver.
Then the master worker can make something out of it.
5Remove ungodly officials from where the king is.
Then the king can make his throne secure because of the godliness around him.
6Don’t brag in front of the king.
Don’t claim a place among his great men.
7Let the king say to you, “Come up here.”
That’s better than for him to shame you in front of his nobles.
What you have seen with your own eyes
8don’t bring too quickly to court.
What will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9If you take your neighbor to court,
don’t tell others any secrets you promised to keep.
10If you do, someone might hear it and put you to shame.
And the charge against you will stand.
11The right ruling at the right time
is like golden apples in silver jewelry.
12A wise judge’s warning to a listening ear
is like a gold earring or jewelry made of fine gold.
13A messenger trusted by the one who sends him
is like a drink cooled by snow at harvest time.
He renews the spirit of his master.
14A person who brags about gifts never given
is like wind and clouds that don’t produce rain.
15If you are patient, you can win an official over to your side.
And gentle words can break a bone.
16If you find honey, eat just enough.
If you eat too much of it, you will throw up.
17Don’t go to your neighbor’s home very often.
If they see too much of you, they will hate you.
18A person who is a false witness against a neighbor
is like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow.
19Trusting someone who is not faithful when trouble comes
is like a broken tooth or a disabled foot.
20You may sing songs to a troubled heart.
But that’s like taking a coat away on a cold day.
It’s like pouring vinegar on a wound.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.
If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22By doing these things, you will pile up burning coals on his head.
And the Lord will reward you.
23Like a north wind that brings rain you didn’t expect
is a crafty tongue that brings looks of shock.
24It is better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.
25Hearing good news from a land far away
is like drinking cold water when you are tired.
26Sometimes godly people give in to those who are evil.
Then they become like a muddy spring of water or a polluted well.
27It isn’t good for you to eat too much honey.
And you shouldn’t try to search out matters too deep for you.
28A person without self-control
is like a city whose walls are broken through.
所羅門的箴言（續）
1以下也是所羅門的箴言，由猶大王希西迦的人抄錄。
2將事隱藏是上帝的榮耀，
把事查明是君王的光榮。
3天之高，地之厚，
君王的心測不透。
4除掉銀子裡的渣滓，
銀匠就能鑄造器皿。
5清除君王身邊的惡人，
王位必因公義而鞏固。
6不可在王面前妄自尊大，
不要佔據大人物的位子。
7與其在權貴面前受羞辱，
不如等人邀請你坐上座。
8不可魯莽地打官司，
以免敗訴、羞愧難當。
9遇到跟鄰舍爭訟，
不可洩露其秘密，
10免得聽見的人辱罵你，
你的惡名將永難洗刷。
11一句話說得合宜，
就像金蘋果放在銀器裡。
12對受教者而言，
智者的責備猶如金耳環和金飾物。
13忠信的使者叫主人心裡舒暢，
就像夏收之時有冰雪的涼氣。
14誇口送禮物卻食言的人，
就像沒有雨水的風和雲。
15堅忍說服君王，
柔舌折斷骨頭。
16找到蜂蜜要酌量而食，
免得吃多了嘔吐。
17不要頻頻去鄰舍家，
免得惹人煩、遭人厭。
18作偽證陷害鄰舍的人，
無異於大錘、刀和利箭。
19危難時投靠奸詐之人，
形同倚靠壞牙和跛腳。
20對憂傷的人唱歌，
如同天寒脫衣、傷口撒鹽。
21你的仇敵若餓了，
就給他吃的；
若渴了，就給他水喝；
22因為你這是把炭火堆在他頭上，
耶和華必獎賞你。
23北風帶來雨水，
讒言激起憤怒。
24寧願住在屋頂的一角，
不跟爭鬧的妻子同屋。
25有好消息從遠方傳來，
如涼水滋潤乾渴的人。
26義人向惡人低頭，
就像清泉被攪渾，
水井受污染。
27蜂蜜吃得太多有害無益，
追求自己的榮耀也不光彩。
28無法自制的人就像被攻破的無牆之城。
