Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 25

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Introduction

1  Observations about kings,
8  and about avoiding causes of quarrels, and sundry causes thereof.
Verse 1

These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
proverbs
1:1, 10:1, 1 Kings 4:32, Ecclesiastes 12:9
which
Isaiah 1:1, 36:22, 37:2, Hosea 1:1, Micah 1:1
Verse 2

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
the glory
Deuteronomy 29:29, Job 11:7,8, 38:4-41, 39:1-30, 40:2, 42:3, Romans 11:33,34
the honour
1 Kings 3:9-28, 4:29-34, Ezra 4:15,19, 5:17, 6:1, Job 29:16
Verse 3

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
heaven
Psalms 103:11, Isaiah 7:11, 55:9, Romans 8:39
is unsearchable
Heb. there is no searching.
1 Kings 4:29, 1 Peter 1:7
Verse 4

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
17:3, Isaiah 1:25-27, Malachi 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:20,21, 1 Peter 1:7
Verse 5

Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
away
20:8, 1 Kings 2:33,46, Esther 7:10, 8:11-17, Psalms 101:7,8
his
16:12, 20:28, 29:14, Isaiah 9:7, 16:5
Verse 6

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Put not forth thyself
Heb. Set not out thy glory.
27, 27:2
in the presence
16:19, Exodus 3:11, 1 Samuel 9:20-22, 15:17, 18:18-23, 2 Samuel 7:8-17, Psalms 131:1, Jeremiah 1:6-10, Amos 7:12-15
Verse 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 have seen.
that it
16:19, Luke 14:8-10
Come
Be humble; affect not high things; keep thyself quiet; and thou shalt live at ease, in safety, and in peace.
Revelation 4:1
than
Luke 18:14, 1 Peter 5:5
Verse 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.
hastily
17:14, 18:6, 30:33, 2 Samuel 2:14-16,26, 2 Kings 14:8-12, Luke 14:31,32
what
14:12, Jeremiah 5:31, Matthew 5:25
Verse 9

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
with
Matthew 18:5-17
a secret to another
or, the secret of another.
11:13, 20:19
Verse 10

Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
thine
Psalms 119:39
Verse 11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
word
15:23, 24:26, Ecclesiastes 12:10, Isaiah 50:4
fitly spoken
Heb. spoken upon his wheels. is like. Rather "is like golden apples (tappuchim, in Arabic, tuffach,) in baskets (maskeeyoth, in Arabic, shakeekat,) of silver." A word spoken with propriety, opportunely, and suitably to the occasion, is as much in its place, and as conspicuously beautiful, as the golden fruit which appears through the apertures of an exquisitely wrought silver basket.
Verse 12

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
an ear-ring
Job 42:11
a wise
1:8,9, 9:8, 15:5,31,32, 27:5,6, 1 Samuel 25:31-34, Psalms 141:5
Verse 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.
25, 13:17, 26:6, Philippians 2:25-30
Verse 14

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
boasteth
20:6, 1 Kings 22:11, Luke 14:11, 18:10-14, 2 Corinthians 11:13-18,31, 2 Peter 2:15-19, Jude 1:12,13,16
of a false gift
Heb. in a gift of falsehood.
Verse 15

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
long
15:1, 16:14, Genesis 32:4-21, 1 Samuel 25:14,24-44, Ecclesiastes 10:4
the bone
Rather, "a bone;" that is, soft and conciliating language will often accomplish the most difficult things.
Verse 16

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Hast
24:13,14, Judges 14:8,9, 1 Samuel 14:25-27, Isaiah 7:15,22
lest
27, 23:8, Luke 21:34, Ephesians 5:18
Verse 17

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's
or, Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's.
Genesis 19:2,3, Judges 19:18-21
weary
Heb. full.
Romans 15:24
Verse 18

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
12:18, Psalms 52:2, 55:21, 57:4, 120:3,4, 140:3, Jeremiah 9:3,8, James 3:6
Verse 19

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
2 Chronicles 28:20,21, Job 6:14-20, Isaiah 30:1-3, 36:6, Ezekiel 29:6,7, 2 Timothy 4:16
Verse 20

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
that taketh
Deuteronomy 24:12-17, Job 24:7-10, Isaiah 58:7, James 2:15,16
vinegar
10:26
so
Psalms 137:3,4, Ecclesiastes 3:4, Daniel 6:18, Romans 12:15, James 5:15
Verse 21

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
24:17, Exodus 23:4,5, Matthew 5:44, Luke 10:33-36, Romans 12:20,21
Verse 22

For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
For
Not to consume, but to melt him into kindness; a metaphor taken from smelting metalic ores.
the Lord
2 Samuel 16:12, Matthew 10:13, 1 Corinthians 15:18
Verse 23

The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
north
Job 37:22
driveth, etc
or, bringeth forth rain; so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. Monconys says, that when travelling on the second of January, 1648, from Tripoli in Syria, between Lebanon and the sea, it rained without ceasing, while the north wind blew directly in his face.
so
26:20, Psalms 15:3, 101:5, Romans 1:30, 2 Corinthians 12:20
Verse 24

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
19:13, 21:9,19, 27:15,16
Verse 25

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
cold
Genesis 21:16-19, Exodus 17:2,3,6, Judges 15:18,19, 2 Samuel 23:15, Psalms 42:1,2, Psalms 63:1, Isaiah 55:1, Jeremiah 18:14, John 7:37, Revelation 21:6, 22:17
so
15:30, Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 1:15, Luke 2:10,11, Romans 10:15, 1 Timothy 1:15
Verse 26

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Genesis 4:8, 1 Samuel 22:14-18, 2 Chronicles 24:21,22, Matthew 23:34-37, 26:69-74, Acts 7:52, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, Revelation 17:6
Verse 27

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
not good
so
27:2, John 5:44, 2 Corinthians 12:1,11, Philippians 2:3
Verse 28

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
16:32, 22:24, 1 Samuel 20:30, 25:17

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