גַּם־אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה

These too, the upcoming aphorisms, are proverbs of Solomon that the men of Hizkiya king of Judah copied.

כְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וּכְבֹד מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָר

Concealing a matter is the glory of God. God created the world without explaining its ultimate meaning. The universe has many hidden secrets, and so does God’s Torah. These mysteries reflect His glory. But by contrast, the glory of human kings is to investigate a matter. Kings are constantly investigating matters, seeking to reveal their causes, and this is their glory. The mysteries of existence, and the human desire and capacity to reveal them, complement one another.

שָׁמַיִם לָרוּם וָאָרֶץ לָעֹמֶק וְלֵב מְלָכִים אֵין חֵקֶר

The heavens are unreachable for, on account of, their great height, and the earth is similarly unfathomable for its great depth, and likewise, the heart of kings is also inscrutable. It cannot be entirely understood. A king has the ultimate authority over, and responsibility for, everything that happens in his realm. Even if he is not a great or wise individual, he presides over a government that is necessarily complex. Since he must make the ultimate decisions in this difficult environment, he must try to take into account the countless needs, desires, claims, and opinions of all the various individuals and groups under his control, even though he cannot know all the details. Such calculations are potentially endless.

הָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף וַיֵּצֵא לַצֹּרֵף כֶּלִי

Remove the dross from silver, and only then a completed vessel will emerge for the smith.

הָגוֹ רָשָׁע לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וְיִכּוֹן בַּצֶּדֶק כִּסְאוֹ

Likewise, remove the wicked person from serving as an officer before the king, and then his throne will be established in righteousness. Just as it is difficult to fashion a magnificent vessel from silver that is full of dross, so too a king who has wicked people among his advisors will be unable to establish a grand and stable kingdom.

אַל־תִּתְהַדַּר לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וּבמקוֹם גְּדֹלִים אַל־תַּעֲמֹד

Do not glorify yourself, do not adorn yourself and attempt to draw attention to yourself, before a king, and do not stand in the place of the great, where nobles are present.

כִּי טוֹב אֲמָר לְךָ עֲלֵה הֵנָּה מֵהַשְׁפִּילְךָ לִפְנֵי נָדִיב אֲשֶׁר רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ

Instead, it is advisable for you to remain in your place, as it is better that it should be said to you: Come up here, than that you should be demeaned before a prince, whom your eyes have seen, with whom you are familiar. Even if you do not attain the highest levels, as you perhaps had hoped, at least someone might notice you at some point and help you advance. This situation is preferable to the alternative: If you forcefully push yourself to the center of power, ultimately you are likely to be demoted when a superior candidate is found.

אַל־תֵּצֵא לָרִב מַהֵר פֶּן מַה־תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָהּ בְּהַכְלִים אֹתְךָ רֵעֶךָ

Do not go forth hastily to quarrel. Avoid arguments, lest you not know what to do and how to react in the end, when your friend humiliates you.

רִיבְךָ רִיב אֶת רֵעֶךָ וְגם סוֹד אַחֵר אַל־תְּגָל

On a related matter: If you wish to quarrel, then fight your battle with your friend. If a disagreement remains within a limited circle of friends or associates, one can argue more freely, without fear of being humiliated or that the dispute will spin out of control. Even if the parties are unable to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution, a quarrel of this kind will not lead to shame. But even then, do not reveal the secret of another person,

פֶּן־יְחַסֶּדְךָ שֹׁמֵעַ וְדִבָּתְךָ לֹא תָשׁוּב

lest the listener humiliate you, and your slandering, the negative reports that your opponent will use to besmirch your reputation, will not be rescinded. It will be publicized, and you will remain helpless to prevent it.

תַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל־אָפְנָיו

A word spoken appropriately is like golden apples, or small balls, wrapped in decorative silver ornaments, which frame the gold balls. At first glance one notices only the silver, but upon more careful inspection, one can discern the gold balls through the openings in the ornamental covering. Similarly, when a person speaks wisely, his statements contain nuances and deeper interpretations beneath the simple meaning of his words.

נֶזֶם זָהָב וַחֲלִי כָתֶם מוֹכִיחַ חָכָם עַל־אֹזֶן שֹׁמָעַת

This proverb employs a similar metaphor: A wise rebuker in a heedful ear is a nose ring of gold and an exquisite adornment of fine gold. When a wise person rebukes someone who is not particularly inclined to listen, his statement is generally not as effective as it could be. Similarly, if the one issuing the rebuke is not wise, his comments are sometimes unworthy of being heard. However, the combination of a wise person rebuking someone who is willing to listen is like a beautiful material that has been skillfully crafted into a beautiful shape.

כְּצִנַּת־שֶׁלֶג בְּיוֹם קָצִיר צִיר נֶאֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָיו וְנֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנָיו יָשִׁיב

An emissary loyal to his sender is refreshing like the cold of snow when it falls on a hot summer day at the time of the wheat harvest, as he restores the soul of his master. One can never be absolutely certain that his messenger will carry out a task correctly. Important objectives are frequently missed and opportunities lost because of an agent’s failures. However, a faithful messenger who fulfills his mission dependably will refresh the soul of his sender.

נְשִׂיאִים וְרוּחַ וְגֶשֶׁם אָיִן אִישׁ מִתְהַלֵּל בְּמַתַּת שָׁקֶר

A man who glories in a false gift is clouds and wind but no rain. The presence of clouds and wind create an expectation for rain, and if it does not fall, people experience great frustration. A similar disappointment results when one announces with great pride that he intends to make a generous contribution to some important cause but fails to fulfill his word.

בְּאֹרֶךְ אַפַּיִם יְפֻתֶּה קָצִין וְלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה תִּשְׁבָּר־גָּרֶם

With forbearance, patience and calm, is even a military commander, or a civilian of elevated stature, enticed, and a soft tongue breaks a bone. A tolerant approach and gentle speech can be highly effective when dealing with aristocrats or difficult officials.

דְּבַשׁ מָצָאתָ אֱכֹל דַּיֶּךָּ פֶּן־תִּשְׂבָּעֶנּוּ וַהֲקֵאתוֹ

You found honey; eat enough for yourself, for your actual needs, lest you overeat, because it is so sweet and you came across it unexpectedly, and you will be too sated with it, and vomit it.

הֹקַר רַגְלְךָ מִבֵּית רֵעֶךָ פֶּן־יִשְׂבָּעֲךָ וּשְׂנֵאֶךָ

Likewise, let your foot be scarce in your friend’s house. Refrain from visiting there too frequently. Alternatively, make your foot precious [yakar] and important to him, by not spending too much time in his home. Do not visit him too often, even if he is your friend. You must maintain a certain distance, lest he be sated with you and hate you. Just as one must be careful to eat sweet honey in moderation, so too you should not overstay your welcome in your friend’s house, as this might lead him to push you away.

מֵפִיץ וְחֶרֶב וְחֵץ שָׁנוּן אִישׁ עֹנֶה בְרֵעֵהוּ עֵד שָׁקֶר

A man who bears false witness against his friend is a battering ram, a sword, and a sharp arrow. Such a witness shatters, pierces, and kills, and it is hard to thwart his destructive act.

שֵׁן רֹעָה וְרֶגֶל מוּעָדֶת מִבְטָח בּוֹגֵד בְּיוֹם צָרָה

Trust in a traitor on a day of trouble is a loose tooth and an unsteady or dislocated foot. One who tries to use them will be frustrated and feel greater pain than if the tooth or foot were simply missing. Those who rely on the assurances of an unfaithful person will similarly suffer; it is when their assistance is most necessary that their lack of trustworthiness becomes clear.

מַעֲדֶה בֶּגֶד בְּיוֹם קָרָה חֹמֶץ עַל־נָתֶר שָׁר בַּשִּׁרִים עַל לֶב־רָע

Removing a garment on a cold day is vinegar that one pours on natron, a detergent, and as he who sings songs to a sorrowful heart. In chemical terms, natron, or niter, is a base, and therefore when an acidic substance is poured on it, the two substances neutralize one another. The idea is that one who sings in an attempt to bring joy and pleasure to a mourner actually increases his pain, just as vinegar damages niter.

אִם־רָעֵב שֹׂנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִילֵהוּ לָחֶם וְאִם צָמֵא הַשְׁקֵהוּ מָיִם

If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread; and if thirsty, give him water to drink. Although your natural inclination is to take revenge, you should resist such temptation and help him instead,

כִּי גֶחָלִים אַתָּה חֹתֶה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ וַה' יְשַׁלֶּם־לָךְ

as you are raking coals upon his head. His knowledge that he has become dependent on his enemy, who is feeding him and has repaid his evil deeds with kindness, is humiliating for him. Furthermore, it is an inherently good deed, and therefore, the Lord will reward you for performing this kind act. By showing him kindness you will benefit twice; you will achieve the highest form of sweet and effective revenge, and you will also be rewarded.

רוּחַ צָפוֹן תְּחוֹלֵל גָּשֶׁם וּפָנִים נִזְעָמִים לְשׁוֹן סָתֶר

A north wind generates rain, and an angry face generates a stealthy tongue. Just as the north wind generally brings rain clouds in the Land of Israel, so too, when someone has an angry face but is unable to express his thoughts publicly, he will eventually let out his rage by speaking in secret.

טוֹב שֶׁבֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג מֵאֵשֶׁת מִדְיָנִים וּבֵית חָבֶר

Better to live alone, like a bird on an exposed corner of a roof, with no shelter or room to move, than to live with a woman of strife in a comfortable house, which has enough space for social events.

מַיִם קָרִים עַל־נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה שְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק

Cold water on a weary soul, which revives it, is as good news that arrives unexpectedly from a distant land. Such news likewise renews and revives one’s soul.

מַעְיָן נִרְפָּשׂ וּמקוֹר מָשְׁחָת צַדִּיק מָט לִפְנֵי־רָשָׁע

A righteous man who collapses and grovels before the wicked is like a muddied and polluted spring and a ruined fount. A righteous person is a source of blessing, and therefore he should feel protected and secure. His downfall before a wicked person is particularly painful, like the ruins of a formerly clear and refreshing spring. Some commentaries interpret this analogy in a positive manner, that the righteous who fall before the wicked will ultimately rise again and be restored, just as a muddied spring eventually returns to its pristine state.

אָכֹל דְּבַשׁ הַרְבּוֹת לֹא־טוֹב וְחֵקֶר כְּבֹדָם כָּבוֹד

Eating much honey is no good, but assessing their honor is honorable. Although investigating and evaluating matters brings glory, one should limit his analysis of goodness or wisdom, just as there is a limit to how much honey one should eat. Alternatively, many commentaries interpret the verse as presenting two opposite ideas: Whereas the consumption of honey should be limited, one should publicize the glory of the righteous and the statements of the wise as much as possible.

עִיר פְּרוּצָה אֵין חוֹמָה אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֵין מַעְצָר לְרוּחוֹ

A man with no constraint to his spirit is a breached city without a protective wall. People who speak without inhibitions harm both others and themselves.