Proverbs 25:20

Verse

Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Bible in Basic English

Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.

Free Bible Version

Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.

Geneva Bible 1599

Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Translation for Translators

Singing to someone who is depressed just causes him to feel worse; it is like [SIM] taking off clothes on a very cold day or like putting vinegar on a wound.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Noah Webster Bible

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

World English Bible

As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Young's Literal Translation

Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.

Context

More Proverbs of Solomon

¹⁹Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. 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.

Summary

This verse compares singing songs to a heavy heart with pouring vinegar on soda, indicating that it is not a pleasant experience for the singer or the listener. It highlights the importance of being sensitive to others' emotions and not burdening them with songs that do not match their current state of mind. The verse encourages empathy and consideration in our interactions with others, reminding us to be mindful of how our words or actions may affect those around us.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Matthew Henry

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Not only is the incongruity of songs (that is, joyful) and sadness meant, but an accession of sadness, by want of sympathy, is implied.

John Gill Bible Commentary

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather,.... Either takes it off of himself, or another person, when it would be rather more proper to put another garment on, and so is exposed to the injury of cold weather; and as vinegar upon nitre: nitre was found in Egypt, beyond Memphis, as Strabo says (p); there were two mines of nitre, which produced much, and thence it was called the Nitriotic Nome: others say, nitre has its name from Nitria, a town in Egypt (q), which gives name to the Nitrian desert, where there is a lake called Latron; from the bottom of which, that sort of nitre, called Natron, arises to the top, as is apprehended, and there, by the heat of the sun, condenses into this kind of substance (r), which will react with an acid; and so vinegar poured upon it will irritate and disturb it, cause it to react, and make a noise and a hissing. This must be understood only of this sort of nitre, of the nitre of the ancients; not of the moderns, which is no other than saltpetre; for though this will ferment with vinegar, saltpetre will not (s): nitre is dissolved by a liquid, but not any, only that which is cold, as Aristotle observes (t), as is vinegar; and therefore, with great propriety, this is joined to what goes before; so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart; rather distresses and afflicts him the more; as he cannot sing himself, he cannot bear to hear others sing; such rather should be condoled and wept with than to have songs sung to them. Some understand the words in a sense the reverse; the word rendered taketh away, in the first clause, has the signification of adorning with a garment; hence they render it, "as he that putteth on a garment (u) for ornament in cold weather, and as vinegar to nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart"; that is, as an additional garment drives away cold, and vinegar dissolves nitre, so singing songs to a heavy hearted man drives away sorrow; as in the case of Saul, such an effect had music on him, Sa1 16:21; or rather, to put on a thin garment for ornament in cold weather is as absurd and unseasonable as to put vinegar to nitre, or to a wound, as Schultens, and to sing songs to a heavy heart; all absurd. (p) Geograph. l. 17. p. 552. (q) Isidor. Origin. l. 16. c. 2. (r) Philosoph. Transact. abridged, vol. 2. p. 530. (s) Ibid. p. 532. Vid. Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. p. 1009, 1010. (t) Meteorolog. l. 4. c. 6. (u) "ornans vestem suam", Gussetins, p. 880. "ornata veste instruens"; Schultens.

Proverbs 25:20

More Proverbs of Solomon

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Bible in Basic English

Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Free Bible Version

Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.

Geneva Bible 1599

Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Translation for Translators

Singing to someone who is depressed just causes him to feel worse; it is like [SIM] taking off clothes on a very cold day or like putting vinegar on a wound.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Noah Webster Bible

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

World English Bible

As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Young's Literal Translation

Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Matthew Henry

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Not only is the incongruity of songs (that is, joyful) and sadness meant, but an accession of sadness, by want of sympathy, is implied.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Proverbs 25:20

Verse

Context

More Proverbs of Solomon

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Proverbs 25:20

More Proverbs of Solomon

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary