1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
5 Take away the wicked `from' before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
7 For 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.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest `thou know not' what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor `himself', And disclose not the secret of another;
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken Is `like' apples of gold in network of silver.
12 `As' an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, `So is' a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As the 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.
14 `As' clouds and wind without rain, `So is' he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is `like' a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 `As' one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, `and as' vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 `As' cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
26 `As' a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, `So is' a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: So `for men' to search out their own glory is grievous.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint Is `like' a city that is broken down and without walls.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 25
Commentary on Proverbs 25 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 25
Pro 25:1
This verse is the title of this latter collection of Solomon's proverbs, for he sought out and set in order many proverbs, that by them he might be still teaching the people knowledge, Eccl. 12:9. Observe,
Pro 25:2-3
Here is,
Pro 25:4-5
This shows that the vigorous endeavour of a prince to suppress vice, and reform the manners of his people, is the most effectual way to support his government. Observe,
Pro 25:6-7
Here we see,
Pro 25:8-10
Pro 25:11-12
Solomon here shows how much it becomes a man,
Pro 25:13
See here,
Pro 25:14
He may be said to boast of a false gift,
Pro 25:15
Two things are here recommended to us, in dealing with others, as likely means to gain our point:-
Pro 25:16
Here,
Pro 25:17
Here he mentions another pleasure which we must not take too much of, that of visiting our friends, the former for fear of surfeiting ourselves, this for fear of surfeiting our neighbour.
Pro 25:18
Here,
Pro 25:19
Pro 25:20
Pro 25:21-22
By this it appears that, however the scribes and Pharisees had corrupted the law, not only the commandment of loving our brethren, but even that of loving our enemies, was not only a new, but also an old commandment, an Old-Testament commandment, though our Saviour has given it to us with the new enforcement of his own great example in loving us when we were enemies. Observe,
Pro 25:23
Here see,
Pro 25:24
This is the same with what he had said, ch. 21:9. Observe,
Pro 25:25
See here,
Pro 25:26
It is here represented as a very lamentable thing, and a public grievance, and of ill consequence to many, like the troubling of a fountain and the corrupting of a spring, for the righteous to fall down before the wicked, that is,
Pro 25:27
Pro 25:28
Here is,