1These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah. 2It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out. 3The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out. 4Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker. 5Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness. 6Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great: 7For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler. 8Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame? 9Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another: 10Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away. 11A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver. 12Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention. 13As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master. 14As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given. 15A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken. 16If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for you; for fear that, being full of it, you may not be able to keep it down. 17Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate. 18One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow. 19Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot. 20Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart. 21If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water: 22For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward. 23As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly. 24It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house. 25As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country. 26Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers. 27It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured. 28He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
1-3 God needs not search into any thing; nothing can be hid from him. But it is the honour of rulers to search out matters, to bring to light hidden works of darkness. #4,5|. For a prince to suppress vice, and reform his people, is the best way to support his government. #6,7|. Religion teaches us humility and self-denial. He who has seen the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus, will feel his own unworthiness. #8-10|. To be hasty in beginning strife, will bring into difficulties. War must at length end, and might better be prevented. It is so in private quarrels; do all thou canst to settle the matter. #11,12|. A word of counsel, or reproof, rightly spoken, is especially beautiful, as fine fruit becomes still more beautiful in silver baskets. #13|. See what ought to be the aim of him that is trusted with any business; to be faithful. A faithful minister, Christ's messenger, should be thus acceptable to us. #14|. He who pretends to have received or given that which he never had, is like the morning cloud, that disappoints those who look for rain. #15|. Be patient to bear a present hurt. Be mild to speak without passion; for persuasive language is the most effectual to prevail over the hardened mind. #16|. God has given us leave to use grateful things, but we are cautioned against excess. 17|. We cannot be upon good terms with our neighbours, without discretion as well as sincerity. How much better a Friend is God than any other friend! The oftener we come to him, the more welcome. #18|. A false testimony is dangerous in every thing. 19|. Confidence in an unfaithful man is painful and vexatious; when we put any stress on him, he not only fails, but makes us feel for it. #20|. We take a wrong course if we think to relieve those in sorrow by endeavouring to make them merry. #21,22|. The precept to love even our enemies is an Old Testament commandment. Our Saviour has shown his own great example in loving us when we were enemies. #23|. Slanders would not be so readily spoken, if they were not readily heard. Sin, if it receives any check, becomes cowardly. #24|. It is better to be alone, than to be joined to one who is a hinderance to the comfort of life. #25|. Heaven is a country afar off; how refreshing is good news from thence, in the everlasting gospel, which signifies glad tidings, and in the witness of the Spirit with our spirits that we are God's children! #26|. When the righteous are led into sin, it is as hurtful as if the public fountains were poisoned. #27|. We must be, through grace, dead to the pleasures of sense, and also to the praises of men. #28|. The man who has no command over his anger, is easily robbed of peace. Let us give up ourselves to the Lord, and pray him to put his Spirit within us, and cause us to walk in his statutes.