What does Proverbs Chapter 25 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker. Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified. The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 25 introduces Solomon’s parables copied by the men of Ezechias, king of Juda. God’s glory conceals the word, kings’ glory searches speech; heaven, earth and kings’ hearts are unsearchable. Remove silver’s rust for a pure vessel and wickedness from the king’s face for a just throne. Avoid appearing glorious before the king or standing among great men; invitation upward is better than humiliation. Do not rush from what eyes witnessed into a quarrel you cannot amend. Treat your cause with your friend without disclosing a secret to a stranger; grace and friendship are to be kept. Timely speech resembles golden apples in silver beds, wise reproof a golden earring and bright pearl for an obedient ear. A faithful messenger refreshes like harvest snow; unfulfilled boastful promises resemble clouds and wind without rain. Patience appeases a prince, soft tongue breaks hardness.

Eat enough honey lest excess bring vomiting; withdraw your foot from a neighbor’s house lest weariness become hatred. False testimony is a dart, sword and sharp arrow; trust in the unfaithful during trouble a rotten tooth and weary foot. Loose clothing in cold and vinegar upon nitre introduce singing to a very evil heart; moth and worm compare consuming sadness. Feed a hungry enemy and give a thirsty one water: hot coals upon his head and the Lord’s reward remain the passage’s wording, without an invented repentance mechanism. North wind drives rain, a sad face backbiting. A rooftop corner is preferable to a brawling woman in a common house. Good distant news resembles water for thirst; a just man falling before the wicked a troubled fountain and corrupted spring.

Excess honey is not good; searching majesty brings overwhelming glory. A separately identified edition note explains incomprehensible divine majesty and weak understanding blinded by excessive light and glory. An open unwalled city compares the man unable to restrain his spirit in speaking. No enemy invasion or guaranteed reconciliation is narrated.

The story inside

Opening: The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker. Development: Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified. Conclusion: The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker.
2
Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified.
3
The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 69424–69430
25:6. Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men. 25:7. For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince. 25:8. The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a
Lines 69476–69480
25:22. For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee. 25:23. The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
Lines 69494–69497
Majesty.... Viz., of God. For to search into that incomprehensible Majesty, and to pretend to sound the depths of the wisdom of God, is exposing our weak understanding to be blinded with an excess of light and glory, which it cannot comprehend.