Proverbs 25:19

19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.

Proverbs 25:19 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 25:19

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
It is not good to put confidence in any man, not in princes, nor in the best of men; much less in an unfaithful, prevaricating, and treacherous man; and especially in a time of distress and trouble, depending on his help and assistance, which is leaning on a broken reed, and trusting to a broken staff. Or, "the confidence of an unfaithful man in time of trouble" ^F15; that which he puts confidence in; who trusts in his riches, or in his righteousness, or in his own heart, all which are vain and deceitful: [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint;
which are so far from being of any use, the one in eating food, and the other in walking, that they are both an hindrance to those actions, and cause pain and uneasiness: or, "a bad tooth", so the Targum and Syriac version; a rotten one.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (dgwb xjbm) "fiducia praevaricatoris", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "fiducia perfidi", Cocceius, Michaelis.

Proverbs 25:19 In-Context

17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, otherwise the neighbor will become weary of you and hate you.

18 Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.

19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.

20 Like vinegar on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood, sorrow gnaws at the human heart.

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;