A WORD APTLY SPOKEN
Key verse: 11,25
NIV
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are more proverbs(A) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:(B)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(C)
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(D)
and his throne will be established(E) through righteousness.(F)
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(G)
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes
8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?(H)
9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.
11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver(I)
is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(J)
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.(K)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.(N)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.(O)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals(P) on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.(Q)
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(R)
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.(S)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey,(T)
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.(U)
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / 8 Do not go
- Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots
Cross references
- Proverbs 25:1 : S 1Ki 4:32
- Proverbs 25:1 : S Pr 1:1
- Proverbs 25:2 : Pr 16:10-15
- Proverbs 25:5 : S Pr 20:8
- Proverbs 25:5 : S 2Sa 7:13
- Proverbs 25:5 : S Pr 16:12; 29:14
- Proverbs 25:7 : Lk 14:7-10
- Proverbs 25:8 : Mt 5:25-26
- Proverbs 25:11 : ver 12; Pr 15:23
- Proverbs 25:12 : S ver 11; Ps 141:5; S Pr 13:18
- Proverbs 25:13 : S Pr 10:26; 13:17
- Proverbs 25:15 : Ecc 10:4
- Proverbs 25:15 : Pr 15:1
- Proverbs 25:16 : ver 27
- Proverbs 25:18 : S Pr 12:18
- Proverbs 25:22 : S Ps 18:8
- Proverbs 25:22 : S 2Ch 28:15; Mt 5:44; Ro 12:20*
- Proverbs 25:24 : S Pr 21:9
- Proverbs 25:25 : Pr 15:30
- Proverbs 25:27 : ver 16
- Proverbs 25:27 : Pr 27:2; S Mt 23:12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These also are (A)proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
2 It is the glory of God to (B)conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to (C)search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is (D)unsearchable.
4 Take away (E)the dross from the silver,
and (F)the smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away (G)the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his (H)throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
or stand in the place of the great,
7 for (I)it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
8 (J)do not hastily bring into court,[a]
for[b] what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 (K)Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another's secret,
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.
11 (L)A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12 Like (M)a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to (N)a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is (O)a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like (P)clouds and wind without rain
is a man who (Q)boasts of a gift he does not give.
15 With (R)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you have (S)found honey, eat (T)only enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18 A man who (U)bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or (V)a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 Whoever (W)sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21 (X)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap (Y)burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 (Z)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to (AA)a thirsty soul,
so is (AB)good news from a far country.
26 Like (AC)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is (AD)not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to (AE)seek one's own glory.[c]
28 A man (AF)without self-control
is like (AG)a city broken into and left without walls.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8Do not go hastily out to court
- Proverbs 25:8 Hebrew or else
- Proverbs 25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
Cross references
- Proverbs 25:1 : See ch. 1:1
- Proverbs 25:2 : [Deut. 29:29; Rom. 11:33]
- Proverbs 25:2 : Job 29:16
- Proverbs 25:3 : [Ps. 145:3]
- Proverbs 25:4 : [Ezek. 22:18; 2 Tim. 2:20, 21]
- Proverbs 25:4 : [Mal. 3:2, 3]
- Proverbs 25:5 : [ch. 20:8]
- Proverbs 25:5 : See ch. 16:12
- Proverbs 25:7 : See Luke 14:8-11
- Proverbs 25:8 : Matt. 5:25; Luke 12:58; [ch. 17:14]
- Proverbs 25:9 : Matt. 18:15
- Proverbs 25:11 : ch. 15:23; [Isa. 50:4]
- Proverbs 25:12 : [Gen. 24:22]
- Proverbs 25:12 : ch. 15:31; 20:12
- Proverbs 25:13 : ch. 13:17
- Proverbs 25:14 : Jude 12
- Proverbs 25:14 : ch. 20:6
- Proverbs 25:15 : ch. 15:1; 16:14; [Eccles. 10:4]
- Proverbs 25:16 : [Judg. 14:8; 1 Sam. 14:25]
- Proverbs 25:16 : [ver. 27]
- Proverbs 25:18 : [ch. 24:28]
- Proverbs 25:18 : ch. 12:18; See Ps. 57:4
- Proverbs 25:20 : [Rom. 12:15]
- Proverbs 25:21 : Cited Rom. 12:20; [2 Kgs. 6:22; 2 Chr. 28:15]; See Ex. 23:4, 5
- Proverbs 25:22 : Ps. 140:10
- Proverbs 25:24 : ch. 21:9
- Proverbs 25:25 : [Ps. 42:2]
- Proverbs 25:25 : ch. 15:30
- Proverbs 25:26 : [Ezek. 32:2; 34:18, 19]
- Proverbs 25:27 : [ver. 16]
- Proverbs 25:27 : [ch. 27:2]
- Proverbs 25:28 : [ch. 16:32]
- Proverbs 25:28 : [2 Chr. 32:5; 36:19; Neh. 1:3]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. For men who would be leaders (1-7)
God has hidden secrets; a leader must search out the deep things of God. A real leader is lonely, for he must keep many secrets in his heart. It is his business to know what is going on among his people and in his world. A leader is established in righteousness (3-5). We should have humble hearts before God and before the men he has established as our leaders (6-7).
2. An apt word (8-28)
Sometimes it is wiser to be silent (8-1
). A rebuke is sometimes the most apt and appropriate word (11,12). The Lord wants trustworthy messengers who will deliver his message clearly (13). False testimony kills truth and destroys character. It is not fitting to sing joyful songs to one who has a heavy heart. Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. We should love enemies for Jesus' sake (21,22), but we should not give in to them--and become like a polluted well (26).
Prayer: Lord, give me a humble heart so that the words I speak may be apt words. Help me to tell the good news of Jesus.
One Word: Speak apt words