Tuesday 6th December 2022

Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

25These are other proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.

² It is the glory of God to conceal things,
   but the glory of kings is to search things out.
³ Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
   so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
⁴ Take away the dross from the silver,
   and the smith has material for a vessel;
⁵ take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
   and his throne will be established in righteousness.
⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
   or stand in the place of the great;
⁷ for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’,
   than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen
⁸   do not hastily bring into court;
for^* what will you do in the end,
   when your neighbour puts you to shame?
⁹ Argue your case with your neighbour directly,
   and do not disclose another’s secret;
¹⁰ or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
   and your ill repute will have no end.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken
   is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
¹² Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
   is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.
¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
   are faithful messengers to those who send them;
   they refresh the spirit of their masters.
¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
   is one who boasts of a gift never given.
¹⁵ With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
   and a soft tongue can break bones.
¹⁶ If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
   or else, having too much, you will vomit it.
¹⁷ Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour’s house,
   otherwise the neighbour will become weary of you and hate you.
¹⁸ Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow
   is one who bears false witness against a neighbour.
¹⁹ Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
   is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.
²⁰ Like vinegar on a wound^*
   is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,
   sorrow gnaws at the human heart.^*
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;
   and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;
²² for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
   and the Lord will reward you.
²³ The north wind produces rain,
   and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
²⁴ It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
   than in a house shared with a contentious wife.
²⁵ Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
   so is good news from a far country.
²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
   are the righteous who give way before the wicked.
²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey,
   or to seek honour on top of honour.
²⁸ Like a city breached, without walls,
   is one who lacks self-control.

NRSV