Proverbs 25:6

6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great;

Proverbs 25:6 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 25:6

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king
Intrude not thyself into his presence; or rush not into it in a rude and irreverent way; or be not ambitious to be a courtier: or "do not appear glorious", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; or "honour thyself"


FOOTNOTES:

F1 as the word signifies; do not appear too gay at court, or make too splendid an appearance, above thy fortune and station; and which may seem to vie with and outdo the king himself, which will not be well taken; princes love not to be equalled, and much less excelled; and stand not in the place of great [men];
where the king's family or his nobles should stand, his ministers and counsellors of state, and those that wait upon him.
F1 (rdhtt la) "ne tibi assumas honorem", Cocceius; "ne honores teipsum", Michaelis; "ne magnificum te facias", Schultens; "ne magnifices te", Pagninus, Mercerus, Gejerus.

Proverbs 25:6 In-Context

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.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or 'Make not thyself grand.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.