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.
And he spake a simile unto those called, marking how they were choosing out the first couches, saying unto them, `When thou mayest be called by any one to marriage-feasts, thou mayest not recline on the first couch, lest a more honourable than thou may have been called by him, and he who did call thee and him having come shall say to thee, Give to this one place, and then thou mayest begin with shame to occupy the last place. `But, when thou mayest be called, having gone on, recline in the last place, that when he who called thee may come, he may say to thee, Friend, come up higher; then thou shalt have glory before those reclining with thee; because every one who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.'
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,