Proverbs 25
25
1Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
4Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
7For better [that] he hath said to thee, ‘Come thou up hither,’ Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
20Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
24Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
28A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
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Proverbs 25: YLT98
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Proverbs 25
25
1These also are proverbs of Solomon.#Prv 1:1. The servants of Hezekiah,#The servants of Hezekiah: presumably scribes at the court of Hezekiah. Transmitted: lit., “to move, transfer from,” hence “to collect,” and perhaps also to arrange and compose. king of Judah, transmitted them.
2#The topic is the king—who he is (vv. 2–3) and how one is to behave in his presence (vv. 4–7). It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
and the glory of kings to fathom a matter.#God and king were closely related in the ancient world and in the Bible. The king had a special responsibility for divine justice. Hence, God would give him special wisdom to search it out.
3Like the heavens in height, and the earth in depth,
the heart of kings is unfathomable.
4#Wisdom involves virtue as well as knowledge. As in Ps 101 the king cannot tolerate any wickedness in the royal service. Remove the dross from silver,
and it comes forth perfectly purified;
5Remove the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne is made firm through justice.
6#An admonition with a practical motive for putting the teaching into practice. Pragmatic shrewdness suggests that we not promote ourselves but let others do it for us. See Lk 14:7–11. Claim no honor in the king’s presence,
nor occupy the place of superiors;
7For it is better to be told, “Come up closer!”
than to be humbled before the prince.#Lk 14:8–10.
8What your eyes have seen
do not bring forth too quickly against an opponent;
For what will you do later on
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9#Another admonition on the use of law courts to settle personal disputes. Speak privately with your opponent lest others’ personal business become public and they resent you. Argue your own case with your neighbor,
but the secrets of others do not disclose;
10Lest, hearing it, they reproach you,
and your ill repute never ceases.
11Golden apples in silver settings
are words spoken at the proper time.
12A golden earring or a necklace of fine gold—
one who gives wise reproof to a listening ear.
13Like the coolness of snow in the heat of the harvest
are faithful messengers for those who send them,
lifting the spirits of their masters.
14Clouds and wind but no rain—
the one who boasts of a gift not given.
15By patience is a ruler persuaded,#Prv 15:1, 4.
and a soft tongue can break a bone.
16#The two admonitions are complementary, expressing nicely the need to restrain the inclination for delightful things, whether for honey or friendship. If you find honey, eat only what you need,
lest you have your fill and vomit it up.
17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbors’ house,
lest they have their fill of you—and hate you.
18A club, sword, or sharp arrow—
the one who bears false witness against a neighbor.#Ex 20:16.
19A bad tooth or an unsteady foot—
a trust betrayed in time of trouble.#“A time of trouble” defeats all plans (cf. 10:2; 11:4). At such times human resources alone are like a tooth that falls out as one bites or a foot that goes suddenly lame.
20Like the removal of clothes on a cold day, or vinegar on soda,
is the one who sings to a troubled heart.
21#A memorable statement of humanity and moderation; such sentiments could be occasionally found even outside the Bible, e.g., “It is better to bless someone than to do harm to one who has insulted you” (Egyptian Papyrus Insinger). Cf. Ex 23:4 and Lv 19:17–18. Human beings should not take it upon themselves to exact vengeance, leaving it rather in God’s hands. This saying has in view an enemy’s vulnerability in time of need, in this case extreme hunger and thirst; such a need should not be an occasion for revenge. The motive for restraining oneself is to allow God’s justice to take its own course, as in 20:22 and 24:17–19. Live coals: either remorse and embarrassment for the harm done, or increased punishment for refusing reconciliation. Cf. Mt 5:44. Rom 12:20 cites the Greek version and interprets it, “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat,
if thirsty, give something to drink;#Rom 12:20.
22For live coals you will heap on their heads,
and the Lord will vindicate you.
23The north wind brings rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop
than in a mansion with a quarrelsome wife.#A humorous saying about domestic unhappiness: better to live alone outdoors than indoors with an angry spouse. Prv 21:9 is identical and 21:19 is similar in thought. #Prv 21:9.
25Cool water to one faint from thirst
is good news from a far country.
26A trampled fountain or a polluted spring—#“Spring” is a common metaphor for source. The righteous should be a source of life for others. When they fail, it is as if a spring became foul and its water undrinkable. It is not clear whether the righteous person yielded to a scoundrel out of cowardice or was simply defeated by evil. The latter seems more likely, for other proverbs say the just person will never “fall” (lit., “be moved,” 10:30; 12:3). The fall, even temporary, of a righteous person is a loss of life for others.
a just person fallen before the wicked.
27To eat too much honey is not good;
nor to seek honor after honor.#Nor…honor: the text is uncertain.
28A city breached and left defenseless
are those who do not control their temper.
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