Westminster Annotations, Proverbs · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
Vers. 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 King. 4. 32.
V. 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, Deut. 13. 14.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 8. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself] Matth. 5. 25. and 18. 15.
discover not a secret to another] Or, discover not the secret of another.
V. 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.
V. 11. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver] Chap. 15. 23.
fitly spoken] Heb. spoken upon his wheels.
V. 12. wise reprover upon an obedient ear] Chap. 9. 9.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 18. A man that beareth false witnesse against his neighbour, is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow] Psal. 120. 4. Chap. 12. 18.
V. 19. is like a broken teeth and a foot out of joynt] That makes a shew, but is of no use at all.
V. 20. taketh away] Or, putteth on.
and as vineger upon nitre] Performs an unseasonable office: or, disperseth his grief, as vineger melts mitre.
V. 21. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat: and if he be thirfty, give him water to drink] Exod. 23. 4. Rom. 12. 20.
V. 22. For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head] Psal. 140. 10. Thou shalt bring Gods vengeance on his head, and Gods blessing on thine own.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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. Eccles. 3. 22. Or, an ambitious mans boasting of himself, turns to his own discredit, Chap. 27. 2.
V. 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.