Proverbs · 28 verses
Proverbs 25
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
An enemy is fed, a thirsty enemy is given water, and somehow burning coals arrive upon his head. The proverb declines to explain the contraption, leaving kindness, punishment, and the LORD’s reward in one remarkably warm parcel.
Royal mysteries and public mannersvv. 1–10
The collection begins with Solomon’s proverbs, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah. God conceals a matter; kings search it out; and the hearts of kings remain as unsearchable as high heavens and deep earth. Silver is refined by removing dross, while a king’s throne is established by removing the wicked from his presence. The same careful trimming governs courtly behaviour: do not seize the place of great men, and do not hurry a neighbour’s matter into court, especially when confidence has been entrusted elsewhere. A misplaced certainty may end with the neighbour producing the sort of shame that does not pack its bags.
The proper temperature of speech and appetitevv. 11–20
A fitting word is displayed like treasure, and a wise rebuke becomes an ornament when the ear is willing. A trustworthy messenger refreshes those who sent him; a boaster of gifts never given is merely weather without rain. Patience persuades a ruler, and a gentle tongue performs the splendidly improbable feat of breaking a bone. Then comes honey, with its stern little warning: enough is a delicacy, too much is vomit. Neighbours, false witnesses, faithless men, and badly chosen songs follow in the same gallery of social hazards. Even a song offered to a heavy heart may be as unwelcome as vinegar poured on a wound.
Enemies, rooftops, and broken wallsvv. 21–28
The collection now turns outward: an enemy who is hungry receives food, and an enemy who is thirsty receives water. The result is described as burning coals upon his head, with the LORD’s reward placed beside it, a curious arrangement in which hospitality and heat share the same sentence. A backbiting tongue brings angry looks, while domestic quarrelling makes a corner of the roof seem preferable to the house below. Good news from a distant land is cold water to a weary soul; a righteous man yielding to the wicked is instead a muddied spring. Honey returns for one last appearance, this time beside the danger of searching out one’s own glory. The final image is a city with broken walls: so stands the man who cannot control his temper.
The text
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Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Prov 25:1These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
Prov 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
Prov 25:3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
Prov 25:4Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
Prov 25:5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Prov 25:6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
Prov 25:7for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
Prov 25:8do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Prov 25:9Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
Prov 25:10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.
Prov 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Prov 25:12Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
Prov 25:13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Prov 25:14Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
Prov 25:15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Prov 25:16If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
Prov 25:17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
Prov 25:18Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
Prov 25:19Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
Prov 25:20Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Prov 25:21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Prov 25:22For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Prov 25:23As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
Prov 25:24Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Prov 25:25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
Prov 25:26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
Prov 25:27It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
Prov 25:28Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 196 passages were voted onto 26 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 2Deuteronomy 29:29The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.’’
- 21Romans 12:20–21On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
- 28Proverbs 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- 2Romans 11:33–34O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
- 21Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- 11Proverbs 15:23A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
- 21Exodus 23:4–5If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
- 21Proverbs 24:17Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
- 28Proverbs 22:24Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
- 2Job 11:7–8Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
- 7Luke 14:7–11When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:
- 11Isaiah 50:4The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
- 2Job 38:4–30Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- 42 Timothy 2:20–21A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
- 8Matthew 5:25Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
- 4Ezekiel 22:18“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.
Onward