Proverbs 25 - Introduction

NOTICEABLE GROUPINGS IN CHAPTER 25

Kings

The glory of kings is to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2).

The heart of kings is unsearchable (Proverbs 25:3).

Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness (Proverbs 25:5).

Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men: 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 (Proverbs 25:6-7).

By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded (Proverbs 25:15).

As

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable (Proverbs 25:3).

As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear (Proverbs 25:12).

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him (Proverbs 25:13).

As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely (Proverbs 25:14).

As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart (Proverbs 25:20).

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country (Proverbs 25:25).

As a troubled fountain, and corrupted spring, So is good news from a far country (Proverbs 25:26).

It is

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2).

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house (Proverbs 25:24).

It is not good to eat much honey; So for men to search out their own glory is grievous (Proverbs 25:27).

Better

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 (Proverbs 25:7).

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house (Proverbs 25:24).

Commands

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another (Proverbs 25:9).

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee (Proverbs 25:16).

Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house (Proverbs 25:17).

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink (Proverbs 25:21).

Prohibitions

Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king (Proverbs 25:6).

Go not forth hastily to strive (Proverbs 25:8).

Lest

Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof (Proverbs 25:8).

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another; Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away (Proverbs 25:9-10).

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it (Proverbs 25:16).

Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee (Proverbs 25:17).

Tongue

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself...disclose not the secret of another (Proverbs 25:9).

A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear (Proverbs 25:12).

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him (Proverbs 25:13).

As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely (Proverbs 25:14).

A soft tongue breaketh the bone (Proverbs 25:15).

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow (Proverbs 25:18).

The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance (Proverbs 25:23).

Like

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint (Proverbs 25:19).

A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls (Proverbs 25:28).

So (by itself)

The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance (Proverbs 25:23).

It is not good to eat much honey; So for men to search out their own glory is grievous (Proverbs 25:27).

JOYS AND SORROWS OF PARENTHOOD

Proverbs 10:1 says, A wise man maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. How true. Nothing should please a man more than his children turning out right. Even when they turn out fair, how parents do brag! Nothing brings greater heaviness to a woman than to have her children go bad.

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him (Proverbs 17:25). Along the same line, Proverbs 17:21 says, He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Other passages that indicate how far children can go in abuse of their parents are: He that wasteth his father (and some sons surely do), and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach (Proverbs 19:26); Whoso curseth his father or his mother (and some children will), his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness (Proverbs 20:20).

But, back to the more pleasant side: My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine (Proverbs 23:15); The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy in him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice (Proverbs 23:24-25); My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me (Proverbs 27:11).