Proverbs 25

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.

Proverbs 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

Verses 1-3 God needs not search into any thing; nothing can be hid from him. But it is the honour of rulers to search out matters, ( proverbs 25:4-5 ) to suppress vice, and reform his people, is the best way to ( proverbs 25:6-7 ) self-denial. He who has seen the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus, will feel his own unworthiness. ( 8-10 ) . To be hasty in beginning strife, will bring into difficulties. War must at length end, and might better be prevented. It is so in private ( proverbs 25:11-12 ) word of counsel, or reproof, rightly spoken, is especially beautiful, as fine fruit becomes still more beautiful in silver baskets. Verse 13 . See what ought to be the aim of him that is trusted with any business; to be faithful. A faithful minister, Christ's messenger, should be thus acceptable to us. Verse 14 . He who pretends to have received or given that which he never had, is like the morning cloud, that disappoints those who look for rain. Verse 15 . Be patient to bear a present hurt. Be mild to speak without passion; for persuasive language is the most effectual to prevail over the hardened mind. Verse 16 . God has given us leave to use grateful things, but we are cautioned against excess. Verse 17 . We cannot be upon good terms with our neighbours, without discretion as well as sincerity. How much better a Friend is God than any other friend! The oftener we come to him, the more welcome. Verse 18 . A false testimony is dangerous in every thing. Verse 19 . Confidence in an unfaithful man is painful and vexatious; when we put any stress on him, he not only fails, but makes us feel for it. Verse 20 . We take a wrong course if we think to relieve those in sorrow by endeavoring to make them merry. (proverbs 25:21-22 ) The precept to love even our enemies is an Old Testament commandment. Our Saviour has shown his own great example in loving us when we were enemies. Verse 23 . Slanders would not be so readily spoken, if they were not readily heard. Sin, if it receives any check, becomes cowardly. Verse 24 . It is better to be alone, than to be joined to one who is a hinderance to the comfort of life. Verse 25 . Heaven is a country afar off; how refreshing is good news from thence, in the everlasting gospel, which signifies glad tidings, and in the witness of the Spirit with our spirits that we are God's children! Verse 26 . When the righteous are led into sin, it is as hurtful as if the public fountains were poisoned. Verse 27 . We must be, through grace, dead to the pleasures of sense, and also to the praises of men. Verse 28 . The man who has no command over his anger, is easily robbed of peace. Let us give up ourselves to the Lord, and pray him to put his Spirit within us, and cause us to walk in his statutes.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'Make not thyself grand.'
• [b]. Or 'noble.'
• [c]. Others, 'baskets.'
• [d]. Or 'fitly.'
• [e]. Or 'falsely of giving.'
• [f]. Or 'So doth a backbiting (lit. 'secret') tongue, an angry countenance.'
• [g]. Lit. 'tottereth.'
• [h]. Or 'is glory,' the word having both meanings. Or 'so [for men] to seek their own glory is [not] glory.'