These are also ^aproverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

 2 It is the glory of God to ^aconceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

 4 Take away the ^adross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

 5 ^aTake away the wicked from before the ^bking, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

 6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:

 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, ^aCome up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

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

 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and ^adiscover not a secret to another:

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

 11 A ^aword fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

 12 As an earring of gold, and an ^aornament of fine gold, so is a wise ^breprover upon an obedient ear.

 13 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.

 14 Whoso ^aboasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

 15 By long ^aforbearing is a prince ^bpersuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

 16 Hast thou found ^ahoney? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

 17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

 18 A man that ^abeareth ^bfalse witness against his neighbour is a ^cmaul, and a ^dsword, and a sharp arrow.

 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.