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³⁰I went by the field of the slothful,

And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles,

The face thereof was covered with nettles,

And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

³²Then I beheld, and considered well;

I saw, and received instruction.

³³'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep'—

³⁴So shall thy poverty come as a runner,

And thy want as an armed man.

25 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing;

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

 

³The heaven for height, and the earth for depth,

And the heart of kings is unsearchable.

 

⁴Take away the dross from the silver,

And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner;

⁵Take away the wicked from before the king,

And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

 

⁶Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king,

And stand not in the place of great men;

⁷For better is it 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.

 

⁸Go not forth hastily to strive,

Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,

When thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour,

But reveal not the secret of another;

¹⁰Lest he that heareth it revile thee,

And thine infamy turn not away.

 

¹¹A word fitly spoken

Is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

 

¹²As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,

So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

 

¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,

So is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him;

For he refresheth the soul of his master.

 

¹⁴As vapours and wind without rain,

So is he that boasteth himself of a false gift.

 

¹⁵By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded,

And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

 

¹⁶Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee,

Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

 

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