Proverbs 25:1-28 NIV
More Proverbs of Solomon
1These
are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2It is
the Glory of God to conceal a matter;
to
search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3As the
heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the
hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4Remove
the dross from the silver,
and a
silversmith can produce a vessel;
5remove
wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his
throne will be established through righteousness.
6Do not
exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do
not claim a place among his great men;
7it 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
for
what will you do in the end
if your
neighbor puts you to shame?
9If you
take your neighbor to court,
do not
betray another’s confidence,
10or the
one who hears it may shame you
and the
charge against you will stand.
is a
ruling rightly given.
12Like an
earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the
rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
13Like a
snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a
trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he
refreshes the spirit of his master.
14Like
clouds and wind without rain
is one
who boasts of gifts never given.
15Through
patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a
gentle tongue can break a bone.
16If you
find honey, eat just enough—
too
much of it, and you will vomit.
17Seldom
set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too
much of you, and they will hate you.
18Like a
club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one
who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19Like a
broken tooth or a lame foot
is
reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20Like
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.
21If your enemy is hungry, give him food
to eat;
if
he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22In doing this, you will heap burning coals
on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
23Like a
north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a
sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24Better
to live on a corner of the roof
than
share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25Like
cold water to a weary soul
is good
news from a distant land.
26Like a
muddied spring or a polluted well
are the
righteous who give way to the wicked.
27It is
not good to eat too much honey,
nor is
it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
28Like a
city whose walls are broken through
is a
person who lacks self-control.
Verses 21-22
By this it appears
that, however the scribes and Pharisees had corrupted the law, not only the
commandment of loving our brethren, but even that of loving our enemies, was
not only a new, but also an old commandment, an Old-Testament commandment,
though our Savior Jesus has given it to us with the new enforcement of His own
great example in loving us when we were enemies before.
It shows how we must
express our love to our enemies by the real kindness, "If they are hungry
and thirsty, instead of pleasing yourself with their distress and contriving
how to cut off supplies from them, relieve them. It will be a likely means to
win on them, and bring them over to be reconciled to us; we shall mollify them
as the refiner melts the metal in the crucible, not only by putting it over the
fire, but by heaping coals of fire upon it. The way to turn an enemy into a
friend is, to act towards him in a friendly manner.
If it does not gain
him, it will aggravate his sin and punishment, and heap the burning coals of
God’s wrath upon his head, as rejoicing in his calamity may be an occasion of
God’s turning His wrath from him, Proverbs 24:17. However, we shall be no
losers by our self-denial. Whether he relent towards you or not, the Lord shall
reward you; He shall forgive you who shows yourself to be of a forgiving spirit.
He shall provide for you when you art in distress as you do for your enemy; at
least it shall be rewarded in the resurrection of the just, when kindnesses
done to our enemies shall be remembered as well as those shown to God’s people.