Proverbs 25 is the 25th chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.[1] The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period. This chapter is the last part of the fifth collection of the book,[2] so-called "the Second Solomonic Collection."
The following table shows the Hebrew text[3] [4] of Proverbs 25 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. | ||
| 2 | It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. | ||
| 3 | The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. | ||
| 4 | Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner; | ||
| 5 | Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. | ||
| 6 | Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; | ||
| 7 | For 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 9 | Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another; | ||
| 10 | Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away. | ||
| 11 | A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in settings of silver. | ||
| 12 | As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. | ||
| 13 | As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to him that sendeth him; For he refresheth the soul of his master. . | ||
| 14 | As vapours and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of a false gift. | ||
| 15 | By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone. | ||
| 16 | Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. | ||
| 17 | Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; Lest he be sated with thee, and hate thee. | ||
| 18 | As a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, So is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour. | ||
| 19 | Confidence 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 nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart. | ||
| 21 | If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; | ||
| 22 | For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee. | ||
| 23 | The north wind bringeth forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. | ||
| 24 | It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than in a house in common with a contentious woman. | ||
| 25 | As cold waters to a faint 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. | ||
| 27 | It is not good to eat much honey; So for men to search out their own glory is not glory. | ||
| 28 | Like a city broken down and without a wall, So is he whose spirit is without restraint. |
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B;
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This chapter belongs to a further collection of Solomonic proverbs, transmitted andedited by royal scribes during the reign of Hezekiah, comprising Proverbs 25–29. This collection is introduced within the text as "[the] proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied".[5] Hezekiah was the 13th king of Judah from 726 BCE to 697 BCE,[6] who is favorably spoken of in Kings 18:3.
Based on differences in style and subject-matter there could be two originally separate collections:
Aberdeen theologian Kenneth Aitken argues that chapters 25–27 and 28–29 were originally separate collections, while Methodist minister Arno Gaebelein argues that chapters 27–29 as a unit constitute "instructions given to Solomon".[7]
Verses 2 to 7 consist of a series of sayings regarding the king, followed by advice in verses 6 and 7 directed to royal officials.
These are also proverbs of Solomon,
which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.[8] The proverbs in this collection differ from the earlier ones in that these are 'multiple line sayings using more similes'.[9]
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 it be said to you, “Come up here,"
than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
whom your eyes have seen.[10] David Brown notes that Jesus' parable in 14:7–11 KJV includes "a reproduction" of verses 6 and 7.[11]
. Michael D. Coogan . The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 . Coogan . Michael David . Marc Zvi . Brettler . Carol Ann . Newsom . Pheme . Perkins . Augmented 3rd . Oxford University Press . 2007 . 9780195288810 .
. Michael V. Fox . Proverbs 10-31: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary . Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries . Yale University Press . 2009 . 978-0300155563.
. Henry Hampton Halley. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary . 24th (revised). Zondervan Publishing House . 1965 . 0-310-25720-4.