Proverbs 25:19

19 Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

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, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19 Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

20 He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on a wound.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;