Self-interpreting Bible

1 THESE are also ^aproverbs of Solomon, which ^bthe men of ^cHezekiah king of Judah copied out.

• a: Pr. 1:1 , Pr. 10:1 , 1Ki. 4:32
• b: 2Ki. 19:2
• c: 2 Kings 18 - 20 , 2 Chronicles 29 - 32

2 It 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 , 1Ki. 4:29 - 34 , Job 29:16

3 The ^fheaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings ¹is unsearchable.

• f: Job 11:8 , Job 35:5 , Je. 31:37
• 1: Heb. there is no searching, 1Ki. 4.29. , 1Ki. 4:29

4 ^gTake away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the ^*finer.

• g: 2Ti. 2:21 , Job 28:1 , Mal. 3:3 , Is. 1:25 - 27
• *: finer-refiner.

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

• h: Pr. 20:8 , Es. 7:10 , Es. 8:1

6 ²Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and ⁱstand not in the place of great men:

• 2: Heb. Set not out thy glory. Ps. 75.6; 131.1. , Ps. 75:6 , Ps. 131:1
• i: Pr. 22:29

7 For ^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.

• j: Lu. 14:8 - 11 , Pr. 16:19
• *: hither-here, to this place.

8 ^kGo 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: Pr. 17:14 , Ja. 4:1 , Pr. 13:10 , Pr. 10:12 , Pr. 18:6 , Pr. 30:33 , Ro. 6:21

9 ^lDebate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and ³discover not a secret to another:

• l: Mat. 5:25 , Mat. 18:15 , 1Co. 13:3 , 1Co. 13:4
• 3: Or, discover not the secret of another.

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

• m: Pr. 6:33

11 A ⁿword ⁴fitly spoken is like apples of gold in ^*pictures of silver.

• n: Pr. 15:23 , Is. 50:4 , 1Co. 9:20
• 4: Heb. spoken upon his wheels.
• *: pictures-images carved in relief.

12 As ^oan earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

• o: Ps. 141:6 , Pr. 9:8 , Pr. 15:31 , Pr. 28:23 , Pr. 27:6 , Pr. 1:8 , Pr. 1:9 , Is. 50:4 , 1Sa. 25:31 , Pr. 1:9

13 As ^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: Pr. 13:17 , Pr. 25:25 , Job 33:23 , Mal. 3:1

14 ^qWhoso boasteth himself ⁵of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

• q: Lu. 18:10 , 1Ki. 22:11 , Pr. 20:6 , Lu. 4:6 , vs. 11 , vs. 12 , 2Pe. 2:17 , 2Pe. 2:18
• 5: Heb. in a gift of falsehood.

15 By ^rlong forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

• r: Ge. 32:4 , 1Sa. 25:24 , 1Sa. 25:32 , 1Sa. 24:16 , Pr. 15:1 , Pr. 16:14

16 ^sHast thou found honey? ^teat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

• s: Pr. 24:13 , Is. 7:15 , Is. 7:22 , Ps. 81:16 , De. 32:13 , 1Sa. 14:25 , 1Sa. 14:27 , Mat. 3:4 , Ex. 3:8 , Pr. 25:27
• t: 1Co. 7:29 , 1Co. 7:30 , 1Co. 9:25 , Lu. 21:34

17 ⁶Withdraw ^uthy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be ⁷weary of thee, and so hate thee.

• 6: Or, Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house.
• u: 1Th. 4:11 , 1Ti. 5:13 , Tit. 2:5
• 7: Heb. full of thee.

18 A ^vman that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a ^*maul, and a sword, and ^wa sharp arrow.

• v: Ps. 120:4 , Ps. 55:21 , Ps. 140:3 , Ps. 57:4 , Pr. 12:18 , Pr. 24:28
• *: maul-hammer, mallet.
• w: Ps. 45:5

19 ^xConfidence 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 , Mat. 26:70 , Is. 36:6 , Eze. 29:7 , Eze. 29:16

20 As 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

21 If ^zthine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

• z: Ex. 23:4 , Ex. 23:5 , Ro. 12:20 , Ro. 12:21 , 2Sa. 16:12 , 2Ki. 6:20 , Mat. 5:44

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23 ⁸The ^anorth wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance ^ba backbiting tongue.

• 8: Or, 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

24 It is ^cbetter to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

• c: Pr. 19:13 , Pr. 21:9 , Pr. 21:19 , Pr. 27:15

25 As ^dcold waters to a thirsty soul, so is ^egood news from a far country.

• d: Je. 18:14 , Ge. 45:26 , Ge. 45:28 , Ps. 42:1 , Lu. 2:10 , Lu. 2:11 , Mat. 11:28 - 30 , Jn. 7:37 , Re. 22:17 , 1Ti. 1:15 , Ps. 89:15
• e: Pr. 15:30

26 A ^frighteous man falling down before the wicked is as a ^gtroubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

• f: Mi. 7:8 , Mat. 26:69 - 71 , Judges 16
• g: Eze. 32:2

27 It is ^hnot good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

• h: Pr. 25:16 , Pr. 24:13 , Pr. 27:2 , Lu. 14:11

28 He ⁱthat hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

• i: Pr. 16:32 , Pr. 22:24 , Pr. 17:12 , Pr. 27:3 , 1Sa. 25:17 , Ps. 106:33