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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 25
Commentary on Proverbs 25 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 25
Pr 25:1-28.
1. The character of these proverbs sustains the title (see Introduction).
also—refers to the former part of the book.
copied out—literally, "transferred," that is, from some other book to this; not given from memory.
2. God's unsearchableness impresses us with awe (compare Isa 45:15; Ro 11:33). But kings, being finite, should confer with wise counsellors;
3. Ye wisely keeping state secrets, which to common men are as inaccessible heights and depths.
4, 5. As separating impurities from ore leaves pure silver, so taking from a king wicked counsellors leaves a wise and beneficent government.
5. before—or, "in presence of," as courtiers stood about a king.
6, 7. Do not intrude into the presence of the king, for the elevation of the humble is honorable, but the humbling of the proud disgraceful (Lu 14:8-10).
8. (Compare Pr 3:30).
lest … shame—lest you do what you ought not, when shamed by defeat, or "lest thou art shut out from doing any thing."
9, 10. (Compare Mt 5:25, Margin).
secret—that is, of your opponent, for his disadvantage, and so you be disgraced, not having discussed your difficulties with him.
11. a word fitly—literally, "quickly," as wheels roll, just in time. The comparison as apples … silver gives a like sense.
apples, &c.—either real apples of golden color, in a silver network basket, or imitations on silver embroidery.
12. Those who desire to know and do rightly, most highly esteem good counsel (Pr 9:9; 15:31). The listening ear is better than one hung with gold.
13. Snow from mountains was used to cool drinks; so refreshing is a faithful messenger (Pr 13:17).
14. clouds—literally, "vapors" (Jer 10:13), clouds only in appearance.
a false gift—promised, but not given.
15. Gentleness and kindness overcome the most powerful and obstinate.
long forbearing—or, "slowness to anger" (Pr 14:29; 15:18).
16, 17. A comparison, as a surfeit of honey produces physical disgust, so your company, however agreeable in moderation, may, if excessive, lead your friend to hate you.
18. A false witness is as destructive to reputation, as such weapons to the body (Pr 24:28).
beareth … witness—literally, "answereth questions," as before a judge, against his neighbor.
19. Treachery annoys as well as deceives.
20. Not only is the incongruity of songs (that is, joyful) and sadness meant, but an accession of sadness, by want of sympathy, is implied.
21, 22. (Compare Mt 5:44; Ro 12:20). As metals are melted by heaping coals upon them, so is the heart softened by kindness.
23. Better, "As the north wind bringeth forth (Ps 90:2) or produces rain, so does a concealed or slandering tongue produce anger."
24. (Compare Pr 21:9, 19).
25. (Compare Pr 25:13).
good news—that is, of some loved interest or absent friend, the more grateful as coming from afar.
26. From troubled fountains and corrupt springs no healthy water is to be had, so when the righteous are oppressed by the wicked, their power for good is lessened or destroyed.
27. Satiety surfeits (Pr 25:16); so men who are self-glorious find shame.
is not glory—"not" is supplied from the first clause, or "is grievous," in which sense a similar word is used (Pr 27:2).
28. Such are exposed to the incursions of evil thoughts and successful temptations.