ASV

Proverbs 25

Compare: BSB WEB KJV ASV

1These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

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.

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.

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.

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.

11A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.

12[ As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

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.

14[ As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

15By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

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.

20[ As] 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.

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.

25[ As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

26[ As] 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.

28He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.

Commentary Insights

Study and Reflection

Explore devotional and study commentary connected to this passage.

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.

Proverbs 25:1-3 Verses 1-3

God needs not search into any thing; nothing can be hid from him. But it is the honour of rulers to search out matters, to bring to light hidden works of darkness.

Proverbs 25:4-5 Verses 4, 5

For a prince to suppress vice, and reform his people, is the best way to support his government.

Proverbs 25:6-7 Verses 6, 7

Religion teaches us humility and self-denial. He who has seen the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus, will feel his own unworthiness.

Proverbs 25:8-10 Verses 8-10

To be hasty in beginning strife, will bring into difficulties. War must at length end, and might better be prevented. It is so in private quarrels; do all thou canst to settle the matter.

Proverbs 25:11-12 Verses 11, 12

A word of counsel, or reproof, rightly spoken, is especially beautiful, as fine fruit becomes still more beautiful in silver baskets.

Proverbs 25:13 Verse 13

See what ought to be the aim of him that is trusted with any business; to be faithful. A faithful minister, Christ's messenger, should be thus acceptable to us.

Proverbs 25:14 Verse 14

He who pretends to have received or given that which he never had, is like the morning cloud, that disappoints those who look for rain.

Proverbs 25:15 Verse 15

Be patient to bear a present hurt. Be mild to speak without passion; for persuasive language is the most effectual to prevail over the hardened mind.

Proverbs 25:16 Verse 16

God has given us leave to use grateful things, but we are cautioned against excess.

Proverbs 25:17 Verse 17

We cannot be upon good terms with our neighbours, without discretion as well as sincerity. How much better a Friend is God than any other friend! The oftener we come to him, the more welcome.

Proverbs 25:18 Verse 18

A false testimony is dangerous in every thing.

Proverbs 25:19 Verse 19

Confidence in an unfaithful man is painful and vexatious; when we put any stress on him, he not only fails, but makes us feel for it.

Proverbs 25:20 Verse 20

We take a wrong course if we think to relieve those in sorrow by endeavouring to make them merry.

Proverbs 25:21-22 Verses 21, 22

The precept to love even our enemies is an Old Testament commandment. Our Saviour has shown his own great example in loving us when we were enemies.

Proverbs 25:23 Verse 23

Slanders would not be so readily spoken, if they were not readily heard. Sin, if it receives any check, becomes cowardly.

Proverbs 25:24 Verse 24

It is better to be alone, than to be joined to one who is a hinderance to the comfort of life.

Proverbs 25:25 Verse 25

Heaven is a country afar off; how refreshing is good news from thence, in the everlasting gospel, which signifies glad tidings, and in the witness of the Spirit with our spirits that we are God's children!

Proverbs 25:26 Verse 26

When the righteous are led into sin, it is as hurtful as if the public fountains were poisoned.

Proverbs 25:27 Verse 27

We must be, through grace, dead to the pleasures of sense, and also to the praises of men.

Proverbs 25:28 Verse 28

The man who has no command over his anger, is easily robbed of peace. Let us give up ourselves to the Lord, and pray him to put his Spirit within us, and cause us to walk in his statutes.

Study This Passage

Key Words and Topics

These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.

Related Topics

Adjudication at Law: To be Avoided Proverbs 25:8–10

do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame? / Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence, / lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.

Apple: A Fruit Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Apples Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Army Proverbs 25:26

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

Arrow: Figurative Proverbs 25:18

Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

Assumption Proverbs 25:8

do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

Avoiding Sin Proverbs 25:26

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

Basketball Proverbs 25:27

It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

Beneficence: General Scriptures Concerning Proverbs 25:21, 22

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Boundaries Proverbs 25:17

Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.

Bragging Proverbs 25:14

Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

Breaking Promises Proverbs 25:14

Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

Candy Proverbs 25:16

If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.

Chaos Proverbs 25:28

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

Chores Proverbs 25:12, 13

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. / Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Citizens: Duties of Proverbs 25:6, 7, 15

Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; / for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes, / Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Select a topic to open the full topical search.

Bible Dictionary

Related Dictionary Terms

Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.