IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, GIVE HIM FOOD

Passage: Proverbs 25:16-28

Key verse: 21

NIV

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.(A)
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.(B)
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(C) on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.(D)

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.(E)

25 Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.(F)
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,(G)
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.(H)

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

16 If you have (A)found honey, eat (B)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 (C)bears false witness against his neighbor
    is like a war club, or (D)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 (E)sings songs to a heavy heart
    is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
    and like vinegar on soda.
21 (F)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 (G)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 (H)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 (I)a thirsty soul,
    so is (J)good news from a far country.
26 Like (K)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is (L)not good to eat much honey,
    nor is it glorious to (M)seek one's own glory.[a]
28 A man (N)without self-control
    is like (O)a city broken into and left without walls.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 25:27 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
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. If your enemy is thirsty, give him water (16-22) As too much honey will make you sick, so visiting your neighbor too often will wear him out. Telling lies about others is as harmful as shooting them with a sharp arrow. To rely on an unfaithful man in times of trouble will cause disaster. Singing songs to a heavy heart is like pouring vinegar in a wound. If our enemy is hungry or thirsty, we should give him something to eat or drink. The Lord will reward us. Jesus even gave himself for us, sinners--the enemies of God. 2. Exercise self-control (23-28) A gossiping tongue causes anger. The quarrelsome wife should repent. To send a text message, an e-mail or a letter to our missionaries far away is like giving cold water to the thirsty. The godly should not give in to the wicked. It is not good to seek honor for yourself but seek God's glory. Lacking self-control ruins one's life.

Prayer: Lord, give me your heart to love even enemies, yet help me not to give in to their wickedness.

One Word: Love your enemies