Proverbs 25:7

7 For it is better, that it be said to thee, Ascend thou hither (Come thou up here), than that thou be made low before the prince.

Proverbs 25:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 25:7

For better [it is] that it be said unto thee, Come up hither,
&c.] It is much more to thine honour and credit to seat thyself in a place rather beneath than above thee; which being observed by some of the officers at court, or by him whose business it is to look after such things, he will beckon or call to thee to come up to a higher and more honourable place: than that thou shouldest be put lower, in the presence of the prince
whom thine eyes have seen;
than that thou shouldest be thrust away with a severe rebuke for thy boldness and arrogance, in approaching too near the king's person, and taking the place of some great man, which did not become thee, and be forced down to a lower place, to thy great mortification; and the more, as this will be in the presence of the prince thou hadst the curiosity of seeing, and the ambition of making thyself acceptable to, by a gay and splendid appearance; and now with great disgrace turned out of his presence, or at least driven to a great distance from him. Our Lord seems to refer to this passage, in ( Luke 14:8-10 ) .

Proverbs 25:7 In-Context

5 Do thou away unpiety from the cheer of the king (Take thou away wicked persons from before the king), and his throne shall be made steadfast by rightfulness.

6 Appear thou not glorious before the king, and stand thou not in the place of great men.

7 For it is better, that it be said to thee, Ascend thou hither (Come thou up here), than that thou be made low before the prince.

8 Bring thou not forth soon those things in strife, which thine eyes saw; lest afterward thou mayest not amend, when thou hast made thy friend unhonest. (Bring thou not soon forth those things in strife, or an argument, which thine eyes saw; lest afterward thou cannot correct it, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.)

9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and show thou not (a) private (matter) to a strange man;