Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Proverbs » Chapter 25 » Verse 1-28

Proverbs 25:1-28 King James Version (KJV)

1 These are also 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 honour of kings is to search out a matter.

3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

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

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

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

7 For better 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.

8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

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

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring 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 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long forbearing is a prince 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 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour 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 he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an 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 shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

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

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

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

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


Proverbs 25:1-28 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 These are also proverbs H4912 of Solomon, H8010 which the men H582 of Hezekiah H2396 king H4428 of Judah H3063 copied out. H6275

2 It is the glory H3519 of God H430 to conceal H5641 a thing: H1697 but the honour H3519 of kings H4428 is to search out H2713 a matter. H1697

3 The heaven H8064 for height, H7312 and the earth H776 for depth, H6011 and the heart H3820 of kings H4428 is unsearchable. H2714

4 Take away H1898 the dross H5509 from the silver, H3701 and there shall come forth H3318 a vessel H3627 for the finer. H6884

5 Take away H1898 the wicked H7563 from before H6440 the king, H4428 and his throne H3678 shall be established H3559 in righteousness. H6664

6 Put not forth H1921 thyself in the presence H6440 of the king, H4428 and stand H5975 not in the place H4725 of great H1419 men:

7 For better H2896 it is that it be said H559 unto thee, Come up H5927 hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower H8213 in the presence H6440 of the prince H5081 whom thine eyes H5869 have seen. H7200

8 Go not forth H3318 hastily H4118 to strive, H7378 lest thou know not what to do H6213 in the end H319 thereof, when thy neighbour H7453 hath put thee to shame. H3637

9 Debate H7378 thy cause H7379 with thy neighbour H7453 himself; and discover H1540 not a secret H5475 to another: H312

10 Lest he that heareth H8085 it put thee to shame, H2616 and thine infamy H1681 turn not away. H7725

11 A word H1697 fitly H212 H655 spoken H1696 is like apples H8598 of gold H2091 in pictures H4906 of silver. H3701

12 As an earring H5141 of gold, H2091 and an ornament H2481 of fine gold, H3800 so is a wise H2450 reprover H3198 upon an obedient H8085 ear. H241

13 As the cold H6793 of snow H7950 in the time H3117 of harvest, H7105 so is a faithful H539 messenger H6735 to them that send H7971 him: for he refresheth H7725 the soul H5315 of his masters. H113

14 Whoso H376 boasteth H1984 himself of a false H8267 gift H4991 is like clouds H5387 and wind H7307 without rain. H1653

15 By long H753 forbearing H639 is a prince H7101 persuaded, H6601 and a soft H7390 tongue H3956 breaketh H7665 the bone. H1634

16 Hast thou found H4672 honey? H1706 eat H398 so much as is sufficient H1767 for thee, lest thou be filled H7646 therewith, and vomit H6958 it.

17 Withdraw H3365 thy foot H7272 from thy neighbour's H7453 house; H1004 lest he be weary H7646 of thee, and so hate H8130 thee.

18 A man H376 that beareth H6030 false H8267 witness H5707 against his neighbour H7453 is a maul, H4650 and a sword, H2719 and a sharp H8150 arrow. H2671

19 Confidence H4009 in an unfaithful man H898 in time H3117 of trouble H6869 is like a broken H7465 tooth, H8127 and a foot H7272 out of joint. H4154

20 As he that taketh away H5710 a garment H899 in cold H7135 weather, H3117 and as vinegar H2558 upon nitre, H5427 so is he that singeth H7891 songs H7892 to an heavy H7451 heart. H3820

21 If thine enemy H8130 be hungry, H7457 give him bread H3899 to eat; H398 and if he be thirsty, H6771 give him water H4325 to drink: H8248

22 For thou shalt heap H2846 coals of fire H1513 upon his head, H7218 and the LORD H3068 shall reward H7999 thee.

23 The north H6828 wind H7307 driveth away H2342 rain: H1653 so doth an angry H2194 countenance H6440 a backbiting H5643 tongue. H3956

24 It is better H2896 to dwell H3427 in the corner H6438 of the housetop, H1406 than with a brawling H4079 H4066 woman H802 and in a wide H2267 house. H1004

25 As cold H7119 waters H4325 to a thirsty H5889 soul, H5315 so is good H2896 news H8052 from a far H4801 country. H776

26 A righteous H6662 man falling down H4131 before H6440 the wicked H7563 is as a troubled H7515 fountain, H4599 and a corrupt H7843 spring. H4726

27 It is not good H2896 to eat H398 much H7235 honey: H1706 so for men to search H2714 their own glory H3519 is not glory. H3519

28 He H376 that hath no rule H4623 over his own spirit H7307 is like a city H5892 that is broken down, H6555 and without walls. H2346


Proverbs 25:1-28 American Standard (ASV)

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.


Proverbs 25:1-28 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --

2 The honour of God `is' to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.

3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- `are' unsearchable.

4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,

5 Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.

6 Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.

7 For better `that' he hath said to thee, `Come thou up hither,' Than `that' he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

8 Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?

9 Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,

10 Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.

11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, `Is' the word spoken at its fit times.

12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, `Is' the wise reprover to an attentive ear.

13 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, `So is' a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.

14 Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, `Is' a man boasting himself in a false gift.

15 By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

16 Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated `with' it, and hast vomited it.

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated `with' thee, and have hated thee.

18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, `Is' the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.

19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, `Is' the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.

20 Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, `Is as' vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.

21 If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.

22 For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.

23 A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces.

24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than `with' a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

25 `As' cold waters for a weary soul, So `is' a good report from a far country.

26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, `Is' the righteous falling before the wicked.

27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour.

28 A city broken down without walls, `Is' a man without restraint over his spirit!


Proverbs 25:1-28 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.

3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and 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 the great;

7 for better 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 see.

8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;

10 lest he that heareth [it] disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.

11 [As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.

12 An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive 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 Clouds and wind without rain, [so] is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift.

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 surfeited therewith, and vomit it.

17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.

18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.

19 A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful [man] in the day of trouble.

20 [As] he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad 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 shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.

23 The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.

25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous [man] that giveth way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is [itself] a weight.

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is [as] a city broken down, without walls.


Proverbs 25:1-28 World English Bible (WEB)

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 hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver, And material comes out for the refiner;

5 Take away the wicked from the king's presence, And his throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king, Or claim a place among great men;

7 For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

8 Don't be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

9 Debate your case with your neighbor, And don't betray the confidence of another;

10 Lest one who hears it put you to shame, And your bad reputation never depart.

11 A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

12 As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to those who send him; For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 As clouds and wind without rain, So is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.

15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, Lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.

20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, Or vinegar on soda, So is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For you will heap coals of fire on his head, And Yahweh will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain: So a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.

25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

26 Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, So is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat much honey; Nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls Is a man whose spirit is without restraint.


Proverbs 25:1-28 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

2 It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the glory of kings is to have it searched out.

3 The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the hearts of kings may not be searched out.

4 Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come out for the silver-worker.

5 Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat of his power will be made strong in righteousness.

6 Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:

7 For 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.

8 Do 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?

9 Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your cause, but do not give away the secret of another:

10 Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame will not be turned away.

11 A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.

12 Like 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.

13 As 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.

14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes credit for an offering he has not given.

15 A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.

16 If 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.

17 Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.

18 One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a hammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.

19 Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a shaking foot.

20 Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.

21 If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:

22 For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.

23 As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.

24 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.

25 As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a far country.

26 Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.

27 It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.

28 He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled town which has been broken into.

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,

  • 1. The proverbs were Solomon's, who was divinely inspired to deliver, for the use of the church, these wise and weighty sentences; we have had many, but still there are more. Yet herein Christ is greater than Solomon, for if we had all upon record that Christ said, and did, that was instructive, the world could not contain the books that would be written, Jn. 21:25.
  • 2. The publishers were Hezekiah's servants, who, it is likely, herein acted as his servants, being appointed by him to do this good service to the church, among other good offices that he did in the law and in the commandments, 2 Chr. 31:21. Whether he employed the prophets in this work, as Isaiah, Hosea, or Micah, who lived in his time, or some that were trained up in the schools of the prophets, or some of the priests and Levites, to whom we find him giving a charge concerning divine things (2 Chr. 29:4), or (as the Jews think) his princes and ministers of state, who were more properly called his servants, is not certain; if the work was done by Eliakim, and Joah, and Shebna, it was no diminution to their character. They copied out these proverbs from the records of Solomon's reign, and published them as an appendix to the former edition of this book. It may be a piece of very good service to the church to publish other man's works that have lain hidden in obscurity, perhaps a great while. Some think they culled these out of the 3000 proverbs which Solomon spoke (1 Ki. 4:32), leaving out those that were physical, and that pertained to natural philosophy, and preserving such only as were divine and moral; and in this collection some observe that special regard was had to those observations which concern kings and their administration.

Pro 25:2-3

Here is,

  • 1. An instance given of the honour of God: It is his glory to conceal a matter. He needs not search into any thing, for he perfectly knows every thing by a clear and certain view, and nothing can be hidden from him; and yet his own way is in the sea and his path in the great waters. There is an unfathomable depth in his counsels, Rom. 11:33. It is but a little portion that is heard of him. Clouds and darkness are round about him. We see what he does, but we know not the reasons. Some refer it to the sins of men; it is his glory to pardon sin, which is covering it, not remembering it, not mentioning it; his forbearance, which he exercises towards sinners, is likewise his honour, in which he seems to keep silence and take no notice of the matter.
  • 2. A double instance of the honour of kings:-
    • (1.) It is God's glory that he needs not search into a matter, because he knows it without search; but it is the honour of kings, with a close application of mind, and by all the methods of enquiry, to search out the matters that are brought before them, to take pains in examining offenders, that they may discover their designs and bring to light the hidden works of darkness, not to give judgment hastily or till they have weighed things, nor to leave it wholly to others to examine things, but to see with their own eyes.
    • (2.) It is God's glory that he cannot himself be found out by searching, and some of that honour is devolved upon kings, wise kings, that search out matters; their hearts are unsearchable, like the height of heaven or the depth of the earth, which we may guess at, but cannot measure. Princes have their arcana imperii-state secrets, designs which are kept private, and reasons of state, which private persons are not competent judges of, and therefore ought not to pry into. Wise princes, when they search into a matter, have reaches which one would not think of, as Solomon, when he called of a sword to divide the living child with, designing thereby to discover the true mother.

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,

  • 1. what the duty of magistrates is: To take away the wicked, to use their power for the terror of evil works and evil workers, not only to banish those that are vicious and profane from their presence, and forbid them the court, but so to frighten them and restrain them that they may not spread the infection of their wickedness among their subjects. This is called taking away the dross from the silver, which is done by the force of fire. Wicked people are the dross of a nation, the scum of the country, and, as such, to be taken away. If men will not take them away, God will, Ps. 119:119. If the wicked be taken away from before the king, if he abandon them and show his detestation of their wicked courses, it will go far towards the disabling of them to do mischief. The reformation of the court will promote the reformation of the kingdom, Ps. 101:3, 8.
  • 2. What the advantage will be of their doing this duty.
    • (1.) It will be the bettering of the subjects; they shall be made like silver refined, fit to be made vessels of honour.
    • (2.) It will be the settling of the prince. His throne shall be established in this righteousness, for God will bless his government, the people will be pliable to it, and so it will become durable.

Pro 25:6-7

Here we see,

  • 1. That religion is so far from destroying good manners that it reaches us to behave ourselves lowly and reverently towards our superiors, to keep our distance, and give place to those to whom it belongs "Put not forth thyself rudely and carelessly in the king's presence, or in the presence of great men; do not compare with them' (so some understand it); "do not vie with them in apparel, furniture, gardens, house-keeping, or retinue, for that is an affront to them and will waste thy own estate.'
  • 2. That religion teaches us humility and self-denial, which is a better lesson than that of good manners: "Deny thyself the place thou art entitled to; covet not to make a fair show, nor air at preferment, nor thrust thyself into the company of those that are above thee; be content in a low sphere if that is it which God has allotted to thee.' The reason he gives is because this is really the way to advancement, as our Saviour shows in a parable that seems to be borrowed from this, Lu. 14:9. Not that we must therefore pretend modesty and humility, and make a stratagem of it, for the courting of honour, but therefore we must really be modest and humble, because God will put honour on such and so will men too. It is better, more for a man's satisfaction and reputation, to be advanced above his pretensions and expectations, than to be thrust down below them, in the presence of the prince, whom it was a great piece of honour to be admitted to the sight of and a great piece of presumption to look upon without leave.

Pro 25:8-10

  • I. Here is good counsel given about going to law:-
    • 1. "Be not hasty in bringing an action, before thou hast thyself considered it, and consulted with thy friends about it: Go not forth hastily to strive; do not send for a writ in a passion, or upon the first appearance of right on thy side, but weigh the matter deliberately, because we are apt to be partial in our own cause; consider the certainty of the expenses and the uncertainty of the success, how much care and vexation it will be the occasion of, and, after all, the cause may go against thee; surely then thou shouldst not go forth hastily to strive.'
    • 2. "Bring not an action before thou hast tried to end the matter amicably (v. 9): Debate thy cause with thy neighbour privately, and perhaps you will understand one another better and see that there is no occasion to go to law.' In public quarrels the war that must at length end might better have been prevented by a treaty of peace, and a great deal of blood and treasure spared. It is so in private quarrels: "Sue not thy neighbour as a heathen man and a publican until thou hast told him his fault between thee and him alone, and he has refused to refer the matter, or to come to an accommodation. Perhaps the matter in variance is a secret, not fit to be divulged to any, much less to be brought upon the stage before the country; and therefore end it privately, that it may not be discovered.' Reveal not the secret of another, so some read it. "Do not, in revenge, to disgrace thy adversary, disclose that which should be kept private and which does not at all belong to the cause.'
  • II. Two reasons he gives why we should be thus cautious in going to law:-
    • 1. "Because otherwise the cause will be in danger of going against thee, and thou wilt not know what to do when the defendant has justified himself in what thou didst charge upon him, and made it out that thy complaint was frivolous and vexatious and that thou hadst no just cause of action, and so put thee to shame, non-suit thee, and force thee to pay costs, all which might have been prevented by a little consideration.'
    • 2. "Because it will turn very much to thy reproach if thou fall under the character of being litigious. Not only the defendant himself (v. 8), but he that hears the cause tried will put thee to shame, will expose thee as a man of no principle, and thy infamy will not turn away; thou wilt never retrieve thy reputation.'

Pro 25:11-12

Solomon here shows how much it becomes a man,

  • 1. To speak pertinently: A word upon the wheels, that runs well, is well-circumstanced, in proper time and place-instruction, advice, or comfort, given seasonably, and in apt expressions, adapted to the case of the person spoken to and agreeing with the character of the person speaking-is like golden balls resembling apples, or like true apples of a golden colour (golden rennets), or perhaps gilded, as sometimes we have gilded laurels, and those embossed in pictures of silver, or rather brought to table in a silver network basket, or in a silver box of that which we call filigree-work, through which the golden apples might be seen. Doubtless in was some ornament of the table, then well known. As that was very pleasing to the eye, so is a word fitly spoken to the ear.
  • 2. Especially to give a reproof with discretion, and so as to make it acceptable. If it be well given, by a wise reprover, and well taken, by an obedient ear, it is an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, very graceful and well becoming both the reprover and the reproved; both will have their praise, the reprover for giving it so prudently and the reproved for taking it so patiently and making a good use of it. Others will commend them both, and they will have satisfaction in each other; he who gave the reproof is pleased that it had the desired effect, and he to whom it was given has reason to be thankful for it as a kindness. That is well given, we say, that is well taken; yet it does not always prove that that is well taken which is well given. It were to be wished that a wise reprover should always meet with an obedient ear, but often it is not so.

Pro 25:13

See here,

  • 1. What ought to be the care of a servant, the meanest that is sent on an errand and entrusted with any business, much more the greatest, the agent and ambassador of a prince; he ought to be faithful to him that sends him, and to see to it that he do not, by mistake or with design, falsify his trust, and that he be in nothing that lies in his power wanting to his master's interest. Those that act as factors, by commission, ought to act as carefully as for themselves.
  • 2. How much this will be the satisfaction of the master; it will refresh his soul as much as ever the cold of snow (which is hot countries they preserve by art all the year round) refreshed the labourers in the harvest, that bore the burden and heat of the day. The more important the affair was, and the more fear of its miscarrying, the more acceptable is the messenger, if he have managed it successfully and well. A faithful minister, Christ's messenger, should be thus acceptable to us (Job 33:23); however, he will be a sweet savour to God, 2 Co. 2:15.

Pro 25:14

He may be said to boast of a false gift,

  • 1. Who pretends to have received or given that which he never had, which he never gave, makes a noise of his great accomplishments and his good services, but it is all false; he is not what he pretends to be. Or,
  • 2. Who promises what he will give and what he will do, but performs nothing, who raises people's expectations of the mighty things he will do for his country, for his friends, what noble legacies he will leave, but either he has not wherewithal to do what he says or he never designs it. Such a one is like the morning-cloud, that passes away, and disappoints those who looked for rain from it to water the parched ground (Jude 12), clouds without water.

Pro 25:15

Two things are here recommended to us, in dealing with others, as likely means to gain our point:-

  • 1. Patience, to bear a present heat without being put into a heat by it, and to wait for a fit opportunity to offer our reasons and to give persons time to consider them. By this means even a prince may be persuaded to do a thing which he seemed very averse to, much more a common person. That which is justice and reason now will be so another time, and therefore we need not urge them with violence now, but wait for a more convenient season.
  • 2. Mildness, to speak without passion or provocation: A soft tongue breaks the bone; it mollifies the roughest spirits and overcomes those that are most morose, like lightning, which, they say, has sometimes broken the bone, and yet not pierced the flesh. Gideon with a soft tongue pacified the Ephraimites and Abigail turned away David's wrath. Hard words, we say, break no bones, and therefore we should bear them patiently; but, it seems, soft words do, and therefore we should, on all occasions, give them prudently.

Pro 25:16

Here,

  • 1. We are allowed a sober and moderate use of the delights of sense: Hast thou found honey? It is not forbidden fruit to thee, as it was to Jonathan; thou mayest eat of it with thanksgiving to God, who, having created things grateful to our senses, has given us leave to make use of them. Eat as much as is sufficient, and no more. Enough is as good as a feast.
  • 2. We are cautioned to take heed of excess. We must use all pleasures as we do honey, with a check upon our appetite, lest we take more than does us good and make ourselves sick with it. We are most in danger of surfeiting upon that which is most sweet, and therefore those that fare sumptuously every day have need to watch over themselves, lest their hearts be at any time overcharged. The pleasures of sense lose their sweetness by the excessive use of them and become nauseous, as honey, which turns sour in the stomach; it is therefore our interest, as well as our duty, to use them with sobriety.

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.

  • 1. It is a piece of civility to visit our neighbours sometimes, to show our respect to them and concern for them, and to cultivate and improve mutual acquaintance and love, and that we may have both the satisfaction and advantage of their conversation.
  • 2. It is wisdom, as well as good manners, not to be troublesome to our friends in our visiting them, not to visit too often, nor stay too long, nor contrive to come at meal-time, nor make ourselves busy in the affairs of their families; hereby we make ourselves cheap, mean, and burdensome. Thy neighbour, who is thus plagued and haunted with thy visits, will be weary of thee and hate thee, and that will be the destruction of friendship which should have been the improvement of it. Post tres saepe dies piscis vilescit et hospes-After the third day fish and company become distasteful. Familiarity breeds contempt. Nulli te facias nimis sodalem-Be not too intimate with any. He that sponges upon his friend loses him. How much better a friend then is God than any other friend; for we need not withdraw our foot from his house, the throne of his grace (ch. 8:34); the oftener we come to him the better and the more welcome.

Pro 25:18

Here,

  • 1. The sin condemned is bearing false witness against our neighbour, either in judgment or in common conversation, contrary to the law of the ninth commandment.
  • 2. That which it is here condemned for is the mischievousness of it; it is in its power to ruin not only men's reputation, but their lives, estates, families, all that is dear to them. A false testimony is every thing that is dangerous; it is a maul (or club to knock a man's brains out with), a flail, which there is no fence against; it is a sword to wound near at hand and a sharp arrow to wound at a distance; we have therefore need to pray, Deliver my soul, O Lord! from lying lips, Ps. 120:2.

Pro 25:19

  • 1. The confidence of an unfaithful man (so some read it) will be like a broken tooth; his policy, his power, his interest, all that which he trusted in to support him in his wickedness, will fail him in time of trouble, Ps. 52:7.
  • 2. Confidence in an unfaithful man (so we read it), in a man whom we thought trusty and therefore depended on, but who proves otherwise; it proves not only unserviceable, but painful and vexatious, like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint, which, when we put any stress upon it, not only fails us, but makes us feel from it, especially in time of trouble, when we most expect help from it; it is like a broken reed, Isa. 36:6. Confidence in a faithful God, in time of trouble, will not prove thus; on him we may rest and in him dwell at ease.

Pro 25:20

  • 1. The absurdity here censured is singing songs to a heavy heart. Those that are in great sorrow are to be comforted by sympathizing with them, condoling with them, and concurring in their lamentation. If we take that method, the moving of our lips may assuage their grief (Job 16:5); but we take a wrong course with them if we think to relieve them by being merry with them, and endeavouring to make them merry; for it adds to their grief to see their friends so little concerned for them; it puts them upon ripping up the causes of their grief, and aggravating them, and makes them harden themselves in sorrow against the assaults of mirth.
  • 2. The absurdities this is compared to are, taking away a garment from a man in cold weather, which makes him colder, and pouring vinegar upon nitre, which, like water upon lime, puts it into a ferment; so improper, so incongruous, is it to sing pleasant songs to one that is of a sorrowful spirit. Some read it in a contrary sense: As he that puts on a garment in cold weather warms the body, or as vinegar upon nitre dissolves it, so he that sings songs of comfort to a person in sorrow refreshes him and dispels his grief.

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,

  • 1. How we must express our love to our enemies by the real offices of kindness, even those that are expensive to ourselves and most acceptable to them: "If they be hungry and thirsty, instead of pleasing thyself with their distress and contriving how to cut off supplies from them, relieve them, as Elisha did the Syrians that came to apprehend him,' 2 King 6:22.
  • 2. What encouragement we have to do so.
    • (1.) It will be a likely means to win upon them, and bring them over to be reconciled to us; we shall mollify them as the refiner melts the metal in the crucible, not only by putting it over the fire, but by heaping coals of fire upon it. The way to turn an enemy into a friend is, to act towards him in a friendly manner. If it do not gain him, it will aggravate his sin and punishment, and heap the burning coals of God's wrath upon his head, as rejoicing in his calamity may be an occasion of God's turning his wrath from him, ch. 24:17.
    • (2.) However, we shall be no losers by our self-denial: "Whether he relent towards thee or no, the Lord shall reward thee; he shall forgive thee who thus showest thyself to be of a forgiving spirit. He shall provide for thee when thou art in distress (though thou hast been evil and ungrateful), as thou dost for thy enemy; at least it shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just, when kindnesses done to our enemies shall be remembered as well as those shown to God's friends.'

Pro 25:23

Here see,

  • 1. How we must discourage sin and witness against it, and particularly the sin of slandering and backbiting; we must frown upon it, and, by giving it an angry countenance, endeavour to put it out of countenance. Slanders would not be so readily spoken as they are if they were not readily heard; but good manners would silence the slanderer if he saw that his tales displeased the company. We should show ourselves uneasy if we heard a dear friend, whom we value, evil-spoken of; the same dislike we should show of evil-speaking in general. If we cannot otherwise reprove, we may do it by our looks.
  • 2. The good effect which this might probably have; who knows but it may silence and drive away a backbiting tongue? Sin, if it be countenanced, becomes daring, but, if it receive any check, it is so conscious of its own shame that it becomes cowardly, and this sin in particular, for many abuse those they speak of only in hopes to curry favour with those they speak to.

Pro 25:24

This is the same with what he had said, ch. 21:9. Observe,

  • 1. How those are to be pitied that are unequally yoked, especially with such as are brawling and contentious, whether husband or wife; for it is equally true of both. It is better to be alone than to be joined to one who, instead of being a meet-help, is a great hindrance to the comfort of life.
  • 2. How those may sometimes be envied that live in solitude; as they want the comfort of society, so they are free from the vexation of it. And as there are cases which give occasion to say, "Blessed is the womb that has not borne,' so there are which give occasion to say, "Blessed is the man who was never married, but who lies like a servant in a corner of the house-top.'

Pro 25:25

See here,

  • 1. How natural it is to us to desire to hear good news from our friends, and concerning our affairs at a distance. It is sometimes with impatience that we expect to hear from abroad; our souls thirst after it. But we should check the inordinateness of that desire; if it be bad news, it will come too soon, if good, it will be welcome at any time.
  • 2. How acceptable such good news will be when it does come, as refreshing as cold water to one that is thirsty. Solomon himself had much trading abroad, as well as correspondence by his ambassadors with foreign courts; and how pleasant it was to hear of the good success of his negotiations abroad he well knew by experience. Heaven is a country afar off; how refreshing is it to hear good news thence, both in the everlasting gospel, which signified glad tidings, and in the witness of the Spirit with our spirits that we are God's children.

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,

  • 1. For the righteous to fall into sin in the sight of the wicked-for them to do any thing unbecoming their profession, which is told in Gath, and published in the streets of Ashkelon, and in which the daughters of the Philistines rejoice. For those that have been in reputation for wisdom and honour to fall from their excellency, this troubles the fountains by grieving some, and corrupts the springs by infecting others and emboldening them to do likewise.
  • 2. For the righteous to be oppressed, and run down, and trampled upon, by the violence or subtlety of evil men, to be displaced and thrust into obscurity, this is the troubling of the fountains of justice and corrupting the very springs of government, ch. 28:12, 28; 29:2.
  • 3. For the righteous to be cowardly, to truckle to the wicked, to be afraid of opposing his wickedness and basely to yield to him, this is a reflection upon religion, a discouragement to good men, and strengthens the hands of sinners in their sins, and so is like a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring.

Pro 25:27

  • I. Two things we must be graciously dead to:-
    • 1. To the pleasures of sense, for it is not good to eat much honey; though it pleases the taste, and, if eaten with moderation, is very wholesome, yet, if eaten to excess, it becomes nauseous, creates bile, and is the occasion of many diseases. It is true of all the delights of the children of men that they will surfeit, but never satisfy, and they are dangerous to those that allow themselves the liberal use of them.
    • 2. To the praise of man. We must not be greedy of that any more than of pleasure, because, for men to search their own glory, to court applause and covet to make themselves popular, is not their glory, but their shame; every one will laugh at them for it; and the glory which is so courted is not glory when it is got, for it is really no true honour to a man.
  • II. Some give another sense of this verse: To eat much honey is not good, but to search into glorious and excellent things is a great commendation, it is true glory; we cannot therein offend by excess. Others thus: "As honey, though pleasant to the taste, if used immoderately, oppresses the stomach, so an over-curious search into things sublime and glorious, though pleasant to us, if we pry too far, will overwhelm our capacities with a greater glory and lustre than they can bear.' Or thus: "You may be surfeited with eating too much honey, but the last of glory, of their glory, the glory of the blessed, is glory; it will be ever fresh, and never pall the appetite.'

Pro 25:28

Here is,

  • 1. The good character of a wise and virtuous man implied. He is one that has rule over his own spirit; he maintains the government of himself, and of his own appetites and passions, and does not suffer them to rebel against reason and conscience. He has the rule of his own thoughts, his desires, his inclinations, his resentments, and keeps them all in good order.
  • 2. The bad case of a vicious man, who has not this rule over his own spirit, who, when temptations to excess in eating or drinking are before him, has no government of himself, when he is provoked breaks out into exorbitant passions, such a one is like a city that is broken down and without walls. All that is good goes out, and forsakes him; all that is evil breaks in upon him. He lies exposed to all the temptations of Satan and becomes an easy prey to that enemy; he is also liable to many troubles and vexations; it is likewise as much a reproach to him as it is to a city to have its walls ruined, Neh. 1:3.