Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 25

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 25 Boast not of false gifts—Give food and drink to thine enemy.
1 THESE are also ^aproverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. 2 It is the glory of God to ^aconceal a thing: but the honour 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^a.	3^a the heart of kings is unsearchable A king deals in so many matters that you cannot discern his mind, intent or what is in his heart. What he says and does may or may not be exactly what it seems. He is a 'head of state' whose position is skilled in pretense, misdirection and cover up. You may almost rest assured that what he says is not exactly the truth of the matter of how he feels or that it is what he will do. His is a political mind skilled in side-step and the mis-representation of smoke and mirrors.	1^a 1 Kings 4:32; Prov. 1:1; Prov. 10:1 2^a Rom. 11:33; D&C 5:3
4 Take away the ^adross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 ^aTake away the wicked from before the ^bking, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. 6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, ^aCome up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.		4^a HEB waste, impurities 5^a Prov. 20:8 ^b Mosiah 29:21-24 7^a Luke 14:10 (7-14)
8 Go not forth hastily to ^astrive, 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 himself; and ^adiscover not a secret to another: 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.		8^a Prov. 3:30; Prov. 17:14 9^a OR do not reveal
11 A ^aword fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 As an earring of gold, and an ^aornament of fine gold, so is a wise ^breprover upon an obedient ear. 13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.		11^a Prov. 15:23; Isa. 50:4 12^a Prov. 1:9 ^b TG Chastening
14 Whoso ^aboasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. 15 By long ^aforbearing is a prince ^bpersuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16 Hast thou found ^ahoney? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.		14^a TG Boasting 15^a TG Forbearance ^b D&C 121:41-44 16^a Prov. 24:13
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. 18 A man that ^abeareth ^bfalse witness against his neighbour is a ^cmaul, and a ^dsword, and a sharp arrow. 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.		18^a TG Gossip ^b Matt. 19:18; Mosiah 13:23 ^c HEB scatterer IE some sort of war club ^d Ps. 57:4
20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. 21 If thine ^aenemy be ^bhungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall ^areward thee.		21^a 3 Ne. 12:44 (43-45); TG Enemies ^b 2 Chr. 28:15 22^a TG Reward
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a ^abackbiting tongue. 24 It is better to ^adwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. 25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.		23^a TG Backbiting 24^a Prov. 21:9, 19
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as ^aa troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own ^aglory is not glory. 28 He that hath no ^arule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.		26^a HEB a trampled spring; IE ruined by wading into it; See Ezek. 34:18 27^a TG Glory 28^a TG Self-mastery