In this and the four following chapters are contained various maxims and observations of Solomon, collected by the men of Hezekiah, about kings, and other subjects of both private and public concern.
1THESE are also aproverbs of Solomon, which bthe men of cHezekiah king of Judah copied out.
a ch. 1.1; 10.1. 1Ki. 4.32. b 2Ki. 19.2. c 2Ki. 18-20. 2Ch. 29-32.
2It is dthe glory of God to conceal a thing: ebut the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
d De. 29.29. Ro. 11.33. e 1Ki. 3.9-28; 4.29-34. Job 29.16.
3The fheaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings 1is unsearchable.
1Heb. there is no searching, 1Ki. 4.29.
f Job 11.8; 35.5. Je. 31.37.
4gTake away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the *finer.
*finer-refiner.
g 2Ti. 2.21. Job 28.1. Mal. 3.3. Is. 1.25-27.
5hTake away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
h ch. 20.8. Es. 7.10; 8.1.
62Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and istand not in the place of great men :
2Heb. Set not out thy glory. Ps. 75.6; 131.1.
i ch. 22.29.
7For jbetter it is that it be said unto thee, Come up *hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
*hither-here, to this place.
j Lu. 14.8-11. ch. 16.19.
8kGo not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
k ch. 17.14. Ja. 4.1. ch. 13.10; 10.12; 18.6; 30.33. Ro. 6.21.
9lDebate thy cause with thy neighbour himself ; and 3discover not a secret to another:
3Or, discover not the secret of another.
l Mat. 5.25; 18.15. 1Co. 13.3,4.
10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and mthine infamy turn not away.
m ch. 6.33.
11A nword 4fitly spoken is like apples of gold in *pictures of silver.
4Heb. spoken upon his wheels.
*pictures-images carved in relief.
n ch. 15.23. Is. 50.4. 1Co. 9.20.
12As oan earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
o Ps. 141.6. ch. 9.8; 15.31; 28.23; 27.6; 1.8,9. Is. 50.4. 1Sa. 25.31. ch. 1.9.
13As pthe 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.
p ch. 13.17. v.25. Job 33.23. Mal. 3.1.
14qWhoso boasteth himself 5of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
5Heb. in a gift of falsehood.
q Lu. 18.10. 1Ki. 22.11. ch. 20.6. Lu. 4.6. Jude 11,12. 2Pe. 2.17,18.
15By rlong forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
r Ge. 32.4. 1Sa. 25.24,32; 24.16. ch. 15.1; 16.14.
16sHast thou found honey? teat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
s ch. 24.13. Is. 7.15,22. Ps. 81.16. De. 32.13. 1Sa. 14.25,27. Mat. 3.4. Ex. 3.8. v.27. t 1Co. 7.29,30; 9.25. Lu. 21.34.
176Withdraw uthy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be 7weary of thee, and so hate thee.
6Or, Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house.
7Heb. full of thee.
u 1Th. 4.11. 1Ti. 5.13. Tit. 2.5.
18A vman that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a *maul, and a sword, and wa sharp arrow.
*maul-hammer, mallet.
v Ps. 120.4; 55.21; 140.3; 57.4. ch. 12.18; 24.28. w Ps. 45.5.
19xConfidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
x 2Ti. 4.16. Mat. 26.46,70. Is. 36.6. Eze. 29.7,16.
20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon *nitre, yso is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
*nitre-carbonate of soda.
y Da. 6.18. Ro. 12.15.
21If zthine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
z Ex. 23.4,5. Ro. 12.20,21. 2Sa. 16.12. 2Ki. 6.20. Mat. 5.44.
22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
238The anorth wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance ba backbiting tongue.
8Or, The north wind bringeth forth rain; so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
a Job 37.22. b Ps. 15.3. Ro. 1.30. 2Co. 12.20.
24It is cbetter to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
c ch. 19.13; 21.9,19; 27.15.
25As dcold waters to a thirsty soul, so is egood news from a far country.
d Je. 18.14. Ge. 45.26,28. Ps. 42.1. Lu. 2.10,11. Mat. 11.28-30. Jn. 7.37. Re. 22.17. 1Ti. 1.15. Ps. 89.15. e ch. 15.30.
26A frighteous man falling down before the wicked is as a gtroubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
f Mi. 7.8. Mat. 26.69-71. Ju. 16. g Eze. 32.2.
27It is hnot good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
h v.16. ch. 24.13; 27.2. Lu. 14.11.
28He ithat hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
i ch. 16.32; 22.24; 17.12; 27.3. 1Sa. 25.17. Ps. 106.33.