God Speaks
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.
2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things
and the king’s privilege to discover them.
3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,
or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
4 Remove the impurities from silver,
and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s court,
and his reign will be made secure by justice.
6 Don’t demand an audience with the king
or push for a place among the great.
7 It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table
than to be sent away in public disgrace.
Just because you’ve seen something,
8 don’t be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
9 When arguing with your neighbor,
don’t betray another person’s secret.
10 Others may accuse you of gossip,
and you will never regain your good reputation.
11 Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.
12 To one who listens, valid criticism
is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.
They revive the spirit of their employer.
14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it
is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15 Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones.
16 Do you like honey?
Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
17 Don’t visit your neighbors too often,
or you will wear out your welcome.
18 Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
or pouring vinegar in a wound.
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,
so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
25 Good news from far away
is like cold water to the thirsty.
26 If the godly give in to the wicked,
it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
27 It’s not good to eat too much honey,
and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
28 A person without self-control
is like a city with broken-down walls.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: For the purpose of study in comparison and contrast, Proverbs 25 is presented here with the good or godly statements in italic.
1. These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah:
2. It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
3. No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
4. Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
5. Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign with be made secure by justice.
6. Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great.
7. It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace.
8. Just because you’ve seen something, don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
9. When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret.
10. Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.
11. Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
12. To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
13. Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.
14. A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15. Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.
16. Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or you will get sick.
17. Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.
18. Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
19. Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
20. Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound [or soda].
21. If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.
23. As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
24. It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
25. Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.
26. If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
27. It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
28. A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
Consider the following questions regarding Proverbs 25:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. God, who gave Solomon the wisdom to lead the people of Israel and to formulate these proverbs, promises to give wisdom to anyone who humbly asks Him.
2. People frequently give bad advice to their rulers, go and spread rumors without knowing all the facts, seek to promote themselves, leave their promises unfulfilled, are unfaithful or false witnesses, or have little or no self-control. [But God the Holy Spirit will change us if we ask.]
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 25?
Dear all-wise and loving LORD God, thank You that You conceal matters that may be too difficult for ordinary people to understand. Grant wisdom to those You know will use it well, especially those in positions of influence. Guide those involved in our court systems to recognize truth versus falsehood and to act accordingly. May those who counsel use discretion and those who are counselled accept correction. Please return my nation to calm, respectful discussion of issues instead of division and angry outbursts of foul language. Help us all to follow through on our promises. Because there is so little self-control, this nation’s walls are broken down. We desperately need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Multitudes acting in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will be evidence of Your presence and bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 25? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will pray for wisdom to be restored in my nation, especially in the seven spheres (mountains) of influence.
- I will demonstrate being a good, reliable witness or neighbor.
- I will do just the opposite of what an “enemy” might expect in a situation this week. I will respond with good in the face of evil.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to enable me to exercise self-control in at least one area of my life this week.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.