Proverbs
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Proverbs 25
Proverbs 25
1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Commentary · verse 1
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Commentary · verses 2-3
God had all the information, kings/man did not. Man ought to search out a matter in order to understand it...however, understanding a king's heart may not be possible for his subjects.
4Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner: 5Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Commentary · verses 4-5
A king's throne would be established in the long term only by righteousness.
6Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men: 7For better is it 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 have seen.
6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7For 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 have seen.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
9Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another; 10Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Commentary · verses 8-10
This sounded like the advice you would get from the king's/judge's perspective: If you have a cause to debate with your neighbor, go to him first. See Matthew 18.
11A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver.
11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Commentary · verse 11
A word spoken for the right reason (WHY) and in the right way (HOW) was as treasure.
12As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Commentary · verse 12
Wise correction was as treasure to those who had an obedient ear...those who were contrastive and wanted to be shown where they were wrong.
13As 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.
14As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
13As 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.
14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Commentary · verses 13-14
Clouds without rain were empty: vain. So were those who bragged about their gifts falsely.
15By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Commentary · verse 15
Knowing the right way to listen (forbearing) and speak (soft tongue) was important. These were powerful tools when communicating and doing this right would benefit the people you interacted with.
16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Commentary · verse 16
Be content with what you HAVE. The physical runs down over time.
17Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Commentary · verses 17-19
Trusting in someone who was untrustworthy was going to lead you down the wrong path or no path. This mini-section seemed to speak from experience and was mildly pessimistic.
20As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Commentary · verses 20-22
If you love your enemy, you will have Reward and your enemy will be overcome. See Romans 12:19-21.
23The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
26As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27It is not good to eat much honey; So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.
23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Commentary · verses 23-27
Why do you do the things you do? To get affirmed? To help others?
28He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.
28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Commentary · verse 28
This chapter contained proverbs from the perspective of the king/judge, and they were mildly pessimistic.
This chapter contained proverbs from Solomon but copied down by the men of King Hezekiah. This sentence implied the previous proverbs were all from Solomon. There was some evidence that about 275 years after Solomon, Hezekiah had the books of the Old Testament edited by Isaiah. The following proverbs of Solomon may be a compilation from different writings of Solomon, perhaps even like a "best of."