Poetry

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More Proverbs of Solomon

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

It is God's glory to conceal, and the kings glory to reveal.
God has so much that is hidden in mystery,
But the king searches to make it part of history,
And wise are we if we do this thing
Of following the ways of the righteous king.


3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

The heavens are high and the earth is deep,
And getting into the heart of a king is a leap.
He has so much in his heart to hold
There are treasures there greater than gold,
And unsearchable wisdom never yet told.

Solomon is likely thinking of his own heart.
For he knows he is wise and amazingly smart.
He also knows there is wisdom in there
Greater than he in his lifetime can share.

4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and out comes material for [a] the silversmith;
5 remove the wicked from the king's presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.

Get rid of what is bad, and great good you can create.
This principle works also when it comes to the state.
When wicked advisers are removed from the king,
He gains more freedom to do just the right thing.

6 Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,
and do not claim a place among great men;

Do not in the kings presence exalt yourself,
And make foolish claims that your high on the shelf.
He knows the great and he knows the small,
But your pride may lead you to have no place at all.

7 it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"
than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
What you have seen with your eyes

Let the king make the choice if you go up or down,
Don't deliberately provoke him to make you a clown.
If you've been around, you'd definitely know it,
A mans foolish pride will certainly blow it.

8 do not bring hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?

If your case is not clear don't go to court,
Just work the thing out like a good sport,
For if you insist on playing this game,
It could end up with you put to shame

9 If you argue your case with a neighbor,
do not betray another man's confidence,
10 or he who hears it may shame you
and you will never lose your bad reputation.

If you have a conflict with a neighbor nearby
Don't bring in gossip or another man's lie.
When you do a wrong thing you know it will spread,
And it could lead to a bad reputation to never be dead.

11 A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.


Few paintings are more beautiful to behold
Than silver setting with apples of gold.
Words too can be beautiful like great works of art;
If you speak them in wisdom you will always seem smart.

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

You don't have to be told
There is beauty in gold,
But there are many I fear,
Who are not on this clear,
That a listening ear,
That a wise rebuke will hear,
Is also a beauty to behold.


13 Like the coolness of snow at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

A messenger who is trustworthy to those who send him,
Is as refreshing as coolness of snow to those whose spirits are dim.

14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

Cruel is the man who boasts of gifts he never gives,
He is like clouds who don't give rain, so sad such a man lives.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Never give up, for few things are crueler,
By patience endurance you can even win a ruler.
Don't scream, but just use a gentle tone,
For a gentle tongue can break a bone.

This proverb is a revelation, for we have all heard the old rhyme. “Sticks and stones many break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” We know that is not true, but here is a new revelation that is true, and that is that a gentle word can break a bone. The meaning is that a stubborn bone-headed ruler, boss, dad, etc., can be persuaded to change their mind and attitude when talked to with gentle words. What a great lesson for hot-heads to cool off and win by gentleness rather than the fog horn blast of anger.

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.

If you find honey, eat just enough—
Overdo it, and you'll soon have it tough,
For it won't be long before you feel pain,
And most of your honey will go down the drain.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house—
too much of you, and he will hate you.

If you spend too much time at your neighbor's house
He will come to the point of thinking you are a louse.
He liked you when you came for a minute,
But now it seems like your always in it,
Take you foot out the door, or he will hate you forevermore.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

You are just like a sharp object that ministers hurt
If against your neighbor you start spreading dirt.

19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

You just can't count on a bad tooth or lame foot,
Nor an unfaithful man whose every promise goes kaput.

20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on soda,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

The eternal optimist is not always wise nor smart,
For he sings songs to those with a heavy heart,
On this all therapist are fully agreed,
This is not sympathy, and that's what they need.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

Here is a lesson we seldom learn:
How to make our enemy burn.
Don't treat him rough, but treat him neat,
And give him whatever he needs to eat.
Do that which he would never think,
And give him what he needs to drink.
He will feel convicted, and his conscience will burn,
For he expected treatment, not so kind, but stern.
By this kind means you win him to be a friend,
And God is pleased, and will reward you in the end.

23 As a north wind brings rain,
so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

A north wind brings on the rain,
And an annoying tongue produces pain.
It provokes people to lay down their hooks
And stare at this fool with angry looks

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

If your quarrelsome wife kicks you out like a goof
Be thankful you can live in the corner of the roof,
For it is better than being inside with your wife,
Living in constant bickering and strife.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.

As cold water when you are weary quenches your thirst,
Good news from afar makes your heart of joy want to burst.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
Is a righteous man who sells out to hell.
He walked in the light and to be good he toiled,
Now all that he lived for is lost and is spoiled.


27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

Moderation is the name of the game,
Both in eating honey and in seeking fame.
You won't win much honor by praising yourself,
So let it come to you as you wait on the shelf.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken down
is a man who lacks self-control.

When the walls are down around a city,
You can understand why it is a pity,
For now they are exposed to every danger,
From any enemy, or even a stranger.
Such is the state of the man with no control,
For he is at the mercy of most every soul.
They can make him angry with a sharp word that stings,
And provoke him to do foolish and dangerous things.

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