DAWN

     Explanation: Proverbs 25 contains comparisons and contrasts between the righteous and the wicked. The second major division of Proverbs begins with this chapter and extends to the end of the book. This collection was gathered from Solomon's proverbs by the men of Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.) - about 230 years or more after the death of Solomon (971-931 B.C.). The copyists may have been Isaiah, Micah, Hosea, Eliakim, Joah, Shebna or other inspired men. The proverbs may have been collected from the 3,000 Proverbs mentioned in 1 Kings 4:32-34 and / or official records. The new collection may have been compiled about 713 B.C., around the time when Hezekiah invited Israelites from all of the tribes to partake of the Passover and to be instructed in the law (2 Chronicles 30). Today's painting depicts a personal space in ruin, a fitting symbol for verse 28, below.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 25. Proverbs 26. Proverbs 27. Proverbs 28. Proverbs 29. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 25. Book of Proverbs. ]

     The subjects of chapter 25 are these: The men of Hezekiah copied some of the Proverbs of Solomon and added them (in chapters 25-31) to the former canonical collection in chapters 1-24. As mentioned above, this may have been done about 713 B.C., around the time when Hezekiah invited Israelites from the other tribes to partake of the Passover and to be instructed in the law (2 Chronicles 30). Six of these proverbs, about one-third of the total, are contained in two or more verses. Of these six, two-thirds are groups of related proverbs (verses 2-3, 4-5, 8-10, 11-14), rather than individual sayings (1).
     It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but it is the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Likewise, the heart of kings is unsearchable, as are the heavens for height, and the earth for depth (2-3).
     Take away dross from the silver, and a finer vessel will come forth. In similar fashion, when the wicked are taken away from before the king, his throne shall be established in righteousness (4-5).
     Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand before great men, because it is better for them to say come up here, than for them to put you lower in the presence of the prince (6-7).
     Do not go out hastily to strive or you may become embarrassed when your neighbor has put you to shame. Do not debate your controversy with your neighbor; and do not disclose a secret to another. Also do not disclose a secret, unless he who hears it put you to shame, and your shame will not go away (8-10).
     A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. So, also, a wise reprover upon an obedient ear is like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold. Likewise, a faithful messenger blesses others: he refreshes the soul of his masters like the cold of snow in the time of harvest. By contrast, one who boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain (11-14).
     By long forbearing a prince is persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone (15).
     If you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you be filled with it and vomit it (16).
     Do not overstay your welcome at your neighbor's house, lest he becomes weary of you and hates you (17).
     A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow (18).
     Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint (19).
     As he who takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart (20).
     If your enemy is hungry, give him bread; if he is thirsty, give him water. By doing this you will heap coals of fire upon his head (i.e., the LORD will judge him), and the LORD will reward you (21-22).
     The north wind drives away the rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue (23).
     It is better to dwell in the corner of a housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house (24).
     As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (25).
     A righteous man who falls before the wicked is like a troubled (foul) fountain or a corrupt (polluted) spring (26).
     It is not good to eat much honey; so, also, for men to search their own glory is not glory (27).
     He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city which is broken down and without walls (28).

¹ These are also 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 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 [not numbered].

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, 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, 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 himself; and discover not a secret to another:
¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word fitly [in season] spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
¹² As an earring 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 them that send him:
for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
¹⁴ Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

¹⁵ By long forbearing is a prince 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 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

¹⁸ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, 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.

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 enemy be hungry, 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 reward thee.

²³ The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

²⁴ It is better to dwell 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.

²⁶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is notglory.

²⁸ He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.