Proverbs 25:5

5 Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Proverbs 25:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 25:5

Take away the wicked [from] before the king
Wicked ministers and counsellors; they are the "dross", worthless and useless; yea, hurtful and pernicious. The king is the "refiner", for whom the vessel is; the kingdom is the silver vessel refined; and which becomes much the better, when wicked men are removed from the court and cabinet council of kings; as well as the king is the happier, and his throne more firm and secure, as follows: and his throne shall be established in righteousness;
which he shall execute, wicked ministers being removed from him, who advised him to take unrighteous measures; and others being put in their room, who counsel him to do acts of justice; whereby his throne is secured, and he sits firm upon it, which before was tottering and shaking, and lie in great danger of being removed from it.

Proverbs 25:5 In-Context

3 As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth, so [is] the heart of kings--there is no searching.

4 Remove the dross from silver, and it will become a vessel for the smith.

5 Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand.

7 For [it is] better [that] he say to you, "Ascend here," than he humble you before a noble. What your eyes have seen,

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew "in the righteousness"