1THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.

2The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.

3The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.

4Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.

5Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.

6Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.

7For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.

8Goe not foorth hastily to strife, least thou know not what to doe in the ende thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,

10Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.

11A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.

12He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.

13As the colde of the snowe in the time of haruest, so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soule of his masters.

14A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.

15A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.

16If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.

17Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

18A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.

19Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.

20Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.

21If hee that hateth thee be hungry, giue him bread to eate, and if he be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.

22For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.

23As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.

24It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.

25As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.

26A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.

27It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.

28A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.