Scripture Daily

Context No. 1106 of 4322 · Proverbs

Context · Reflection

Proverbs 25:1-16: in context

1These also are 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 glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. 4Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner. 5Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. 6Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; 7for 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. 8Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you? 9Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another, 10lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart. 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. 12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear. 13As 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. 14As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively. 15By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone. 16Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

This is a fresh collection of Solomon's proverbs, copied out by the men of Hezekiah. It opens with a saying about God concealing and kings searching out, then turns practical. Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; it is better to be told come up higher than to be publicly demoted. Do not be hasty to go to court. And two lovely images: a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver, and a wise reprover to a listening ear is like a gold ring. Then: if you find honey, eat only what you need, lest you overeat and be sick.

Several of these proverbs share a theme of restraint and rightly-timed speech. Take the lower place, the proverb says, do not seat yourself among the great; let honor come to you rather than grabbing it, so that you might be invited up rather than shamed down. Jesus would tell nearly the same parable centuries later. And the image of a word fitly spoken, apples of gold in settings of silver, honors not just true words but well-timed, well-placed ones; the right word at the right moment is a thing of beauty, precious and fitted like a jewel in its setting. It is not enough to speak the truth; there is an art to speaking it fitly, at the moment it can be received. Even the honey proverb serves restraint: a good thing, honey, becomes sickening if you gorge on it, so enjoy in measure. Running through the collection is a wisdom of self-restraint, of not grasping the high seat, not blurting the ill-timed word, not overindulging even the sweet, that quietly shapes a person into someone whose presence is a gift rather than a burden.

Do I grab the high seat and blurt words whenever I can, or am I learning the wisdom of restraint, taking the lower place and offering the fitly-spoken word set like gold in silver?

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