seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Proverbs 25:1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
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,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.
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,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
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?
8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
too much of it, and you will vomit.
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.
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.
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
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 on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
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.
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
is good news from a distant land.
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,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
is a person who lacks self-control.
a. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / 8 Do not go
b. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots
This is from the easy English commentary.
King Hezekiah lived 250 years after King Solomon. Hezekiah was a good king. He served God.
Hezekiah established again the temple (house of God in Jerusalem), which Solomon built. King Hezekiah’s officials found some more proverbs (wise words). So they added these proverbs to Solomon’s book.
Solomon wrote these proverbs (wise words). Or perhaps these proverbs were part of Solomon’s collection.
The style of these proverbs (wise words) is different from the style of the proverbs in chapters 10 to 22. Some of these later proverbs are longer than the earlier proverbs. And many of these proverbs are in subject groups.
Some of these must have made an impression on some people I have known. I'm still in the easy English commentary.
Friendship is good. And visits to your neighbour are good. But you must be careful. Your neighbour needs to meet other people. And your neighbour needs to do other things. If you visit your neighbour too often, then you will upset your neighbour.
Do not attack your enemy! Do not fight him! Instead, trust God! God will protect you. Pray for your enemy! Love your enemy!
Jesus taught this lesson in Matthew 5:43-48. While Jesus was dying, he prayed for his enemies (Luke 23:34). And Jesus forgave a criminal who insulted him (Mark 15:32 and Luke 23:39-43).
Your enemy might be upset when you help him. He does not want to accept your kind gifts. He might continue to insult you. But God sees that your actions are right. And God will reward you.
And finally verse 26 piqued my interest.... and I'm still in the easy English commentary.
This is terrible. This good man is helping a wicked man with an evil plan. The good man is not trying to do evil things. But he has not realised that he must oppose the plan. He has not realised the evil effects of the wicked man’s plan. He did not know that a wicked man’s plans are always evil.
You should not drink muddy water. It is not safe. But even muddy water is more useful than that good man. The good man ought to be useful. So he ought to oppose the evil plan.
I wonder what is was like, finding these proverbs of Solomon's during the restoration of the Temple. I wonder, did they open one of those stone boxes and find a bunch of scrolls? Did they take them directly to the supervisor or did they know how to read? And verse 26.... was it a lament of Solomon's over something he did, later to discover it was an evil plan from the beginning. Was he lamenting over building one of those fake temples to a fake shiny idol that he built while hypnotized by a woman?
Did Solomon realize the impact he would make on his son, grandson, or great grandson when he wandered off the path? Did Solomon realize that those fake temples and fake shiny idols would bring about the split of Israel and Judah?
