Proverbs 25: Apples of Gold, Coals of Fire
Hezekiah's men preserve Solomon's proverbs on kings, fitting words, self-restraint, and kindness to enemies.
Proverbs 25 (WEB)
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
5 Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
7 for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
8 Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another;
10 lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The north wind produces rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
Proverbs 25 (KJV)
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7 For 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.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As 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.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 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.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Proverbs 25 (ASV)
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
5 Take away the wickedfrombefore the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
7 For better is it 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.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, Lestthou know notwhat to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another;
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken Islikeapples of gold in network of silver.
12 Asan ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So isa wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So isa faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, So ishe that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Islikea broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 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.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 Ascold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
26 Asa troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So isa righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; Sofor mento search out their own glory is grievous.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint Islikea city that is broken down and without walls.
Summary
These proverbs, copied by the men of Hezekiah, open with the glory of kings to search out matters and the unsearchable hearts of kings. We are warned not to exalt ourselves before a king but to wait for honor, and not to rush rashly into court against a neighbor. A word fitly spoken is praised as apples of gold in settings of silver, and a wise reprover as an earring of gold to a listening ear. A faithful messenger refreshes, while empty boasters are like clouds without rain. Patience persuades rulers, and self-restraint matters, even with honey. Most strikingly, we are told to feed a hungry enemy and give him drink, heaping coals of fire on his head, for Yahweh will reward. The chapter ends warning that an unrestrained spirit is a city without walls.
Main Characters
- The king — The ruler whose searching glory and unsearchable heart frame the chapter's wisdom on conduct and honor.
- The wise speaker — The one whose fitly spoken words and faithful reproof are likened to gold and refreshing snow.
- The enemy — The hungry, thirsty adversary whom the wise are told to feed, heaping coals of fire on his head.
- Yahweh — The Lord who rewards those who show kindness to their enemies rather than seeking revenge.
Key Verse
Proverbs 25:11 (WEB)
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Lessons Learned
- The right word at the right time is a thing of rare beauty and worth.
- Humility that waits to be honored is wiser than self-promotion.
- Kindness to enemies, not revenge, is God's way and brings His reward.
- A life without self-restraint is as defenseless as a city with broken walls.
- Timely, fitting words are precious and beautiful. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11, WEB). The right word at the right moment is a rare and valuable gift.
- Humility waits for honor rather than grasping it. It is better that it be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower (Proverbs 25:7, WEB). God lifts up the humble in due time.
- Wise correction blesses a willing listener. As an earring of gold... so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear (Proverbs 25:12, WEB). Loving rebuke is a gift to those ready to receive it.
- Kindness to enemies overcomes evil with good. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat... for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you (Proverbs 25:21-22, WEB). Mercy, not vengeance, reflects God's heart.
- Patience and gentleness accomplish what force cannot. By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone (Proverbs 25:15, WEB). Gentle persistence can move even the powerful.
- A life without restraint stands defenseless. Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint (Proverbs 25:28, WEB). Self-control is the wall that guards the soul.
- Why is a word fitly spoken compared to apples of gold in settings of silver?
- What is the wisdom in not exalting yourself before a king but waiting to be invited up?
- What does it mean to heap coals of fire on an enemy's head by showing kindness?
- When has someone's well-timed word brought you refreshment or correction?
- How is a man without self-restraint like a city broken down and without walls?
- Because such words are both beautiful and valuable, a perfect fit of speech to situation that delights and helps the hearer. The image elevates wise, well-timed speech as a treasure.
- Self-promotion risks public humiliation, while humble waiting allows others to honor you, which is more secure and gracious. It models trusting God and others to lift you in due time.
- It pictures responding to hostility with generosity, which can melt an enemy's anger and shame him toward repentance, while God promises to reward such kindness. It calls us to overcome evil with good rather than revenge.
- This is a personal question; invite testimonies. Encourage members to recall both encouraging words and faithful rebukes, and to consider speaking such words to others.
- Without inner restraint a person is exposed to every impulse and temptation, just as a wall-less city lies open to any attacker. Self-control is portrayed as essential protection for the soul.