Proverbs 25

Proverbs · Chapter 25

Proverbs 25:21

1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
ifאִם־'im-H0518A
if

אִם (im) : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather

[is] hungryרָעֵ֣בra-'EVH7457
hungry

רָעֵב (ra.ev) 1) hungry 1a) hungry 1b) hungry man (subst) 1c) of failing strength (fig)

[one who] hates youשֹׂ֭נַאֲךָSO-na-'a-khaH8130
to hate

שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) 1) to hate, be hateful 1a) (Qal) to hate 1a1) of man 1a2) of God 1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst) 1b) (Niphal) to be hated 1c) (Piel) hater (participle) 1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)

give to eat himהַאֲכִלֵ֣הוּha-'a-khi-LE-huH0398
to eat

אָכַל (a.khal) 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

foodלָ֑חֶםLA-chemH3899H
food

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) : food(eating) 1) bread, food, grain 1a) bread 1a1) bread 1a2) bread-corn 1b) food (in general)

and ifוְאִם־ve-'im-H0518A
if

אִם (im) : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather

thirstyצָ֝מֵ֗אtza-ME'H6771
thirsty

צָמֵא (tsa.me) thirsty

give to drink himהַשְׁקֵ֥הוּhash-KE-huH8248H
to water: watering

שָׁקָה (sha.qah) : watering(ANIMALS/PLANTS) 1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to water, irrigate 1a2) to water, give drink to 1b) (Pual) to be watered 1c) (Niphal) variant

waterמָֽיִם׃MA-yimH4325G
water

מַי (ma.yim) 1) water, waters 1a) water 1b) water of the feet, urine 1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.