1. These too are proverbs of Shelomoh which the men of Ḥizqiyah sovereign of Yehuḏah copied:
2. It is the esteem of Elohim to hide a matter, And the esteem of sovereigns to search out a matter.
3. The heavens for height and the earth for depth, But the heart of sovereigns is unsearchable.
4. Take away the dross from silver, And a vessel comes forth for the refiner.
5. Take away the wrong from before the sovereign, And his throne is established in righteousness.
6. Do not exalt yourself before a sovereign, And do not stand in the place of great men;
7. For it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower Before a noble whom your eyes have seen.
8. Do not go forth to strive in haste, For what would you do in the end, When your neighbour has put you to shame?
9. Plead your case with your neighbour himself, And do not disclose the secret of another;
10. Lest he who hears it put you to shame, And your evil report turn not back.
11. A word spoken at the right time Is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12. A ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, Is a wise one’s reproof to an ear that hears.