Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:1

THe men of Hezekiah] Whom Hezekiah appointed for this purpose. See Notes on chap. 4. 4. and 8. 1.

copied out] Out of divers books of proverbs of Solomon, 1 Kings 4:32.

Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing] God doth not reveal the cause of his judgements to man.

the honour of kings is to search out a matter] Because the king ruleth by the revealed word of God, the cause of his doings must appear, and therefore he must use diligence in trying out of causes, Deuteronomy 13:14.

Proverbs 25:3

and the heart of kings is unsearchable] He sheweth, that it is too hard a task for a subject to attain to a reason of all the secret doings of the king, even when he is upright, and doth his duty.

is unsearchable] Heb. there is no searching.

Proverbs 25:4

Take away the drosse from the silver] When vicious persons are removed from the king, he is a meet vessel for the LORDS use.

Proverbs 25:5

Take away the wicked from before the king, &c.] Chap. 10. 8. It is not enough that a king be upright himself, but he must also put away from him bad counsellours and servants, if he desire to have his throne firm.

Proverbs 25:6

Put not forth thy self] Heb. set not out thy glory.

and stand not in the place of great men] If thou be none of them.

Proverbs 25:7

For it is better that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, &c.] Luke 14. 10.

whom thine eyes have seen] For as it was an honour to thee to be graced with the kings presence; so thy dishonour will be the greater, because it is in his sight.

Proverbs 25:8

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself] Matthew 5:25. and Matthew 18:15.

discover not a secret to another] Or, discover not the secret of another.

Proverbs 25:10

Lest he that heareth it, put] Or, Lest he hearing, put.

put thee to shame] By passing sentence against thee, and so thou be shamed for ever.

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver] Chap. 15. 23.

fitly spoken] Heb. spoken upon his wheels.

Proverbs 25:12

wise reprover upon an obedient ear] Chap. 9. 9.

Proverbs 25:13

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithfull messenger, &c.] Chap. 13. 17.

in the time of harvest] In the time of great heat, when men have need of cooling.

Proverbs 25:14

of a false gift] Heb. in a gift of falshood.

is like clouds and winde without rain] Which have an outward appearance, and are nothing within: such are covetous men, that would be thought to be liberall.

clouds and winde without rain] Jude v. 12.

Proverbs 25:15

By long forbearing is bearing is a prince perswaded] Gen. 32. 4, &c. 1 Sam. 25. 24, &c. Chap. 15. 1. and 16. 14. By not ministring occasion to provoke him further.

a soft tongue breaketh the bone] That is, the heart that is bent to anger, and hardest to be pacified.

Proverbs 25:16

eat so much as is sufficient for thee] Use moderately the pleasures of this world: or, go not too often to thy neighbours house, as verse 17.

Proverbs 25:17

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbours house] Or, let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbours house.

weary of thee] Heb. full of thee.

Proverbs 25:18

A man that beareth false witnesse against his neighbour, is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow] Psalms 120:4. Chap. 12. 18.

Proverbs 25:19

is like a broken teeth and a foot out of joynt] That makes a shew, but is of no use at all.

Proverbs 25:20

taketh away] Or, putteth on.

and as vineger upon nitre] Performs an unseasonable office: or, disperseth his grief, as vineger melts mitre.

Proverbs 25:21

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat: and if he be thirfty, give him water to drink] Exodus 23:4. Romans 12:20.

Proverbs 25:22

For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head] Psalms 140:10. Thou shalt bring Gods vengeance on his head, and Gods blessing on thine own.

Proverbs 25:23

The north-winde driveth away rain] Job 37:22.

The north-winde driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue] Or, the north-winde bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue] Heb. a secret tongue, That speaks evill of a man behinde his back to another.

a backbiting tongue] Heb. of secrecie.

Proverbs 25:24

It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, then with a brawling woman and in a wide house] Chap. 19. 13. and 21. 9.

Proverbs 25:26

is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring] Which is a thing to be grieved at by all men, as being a publike mischief.

Proverbs 25:27

good] Or, hurtfull, Chap. 10. 2.

to eat much honey] Verse 16.

so for men to search their own glory, is not glory] So over-curious searching into hidden things, though it be pleasant, may prove prejudiciall, Psal. 131. 1, 2. Ecclesiastes 3:22. Or, an ambitious mans boasting of himself, turns to his own discredit, Chap. 27. 2.

Proverbs 25:28

He that hath no rule over his own spirit, is like a city that is broken down, and without walls] Chap. 16. 32.

is like a city that is broken down] Which lies open to all assailants, and so is in extream danger.