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Proverbs 25:2-7
New English Translation

2 It is the glory of God[a] to conceal[b] a matter,

and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.
3 As the heaven is high[c] and the earth is deep
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.[d]
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and material[e] for the silversmith will emerge;
5 remove the wicked from before the king,[f]
and his throne[g] will be established in righteousness.[h]
6 Do not honor yourself before the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 for it is better for him[i] to say to you, “Come up here,”[j]
than to put you lower[k] before a prince,
whom your eyes have seen.[l]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:2 sn The proverb provides a contrast between God and the king, and therein is the clue to the range of application involved. The interest of the king is ruling or administering his government; and so the subject matter is a contrast to the way God rules his kingdom.
  2. Proverbs 25:2 sn The two infinitives form the heart of the contrast—“to conceal a matter” and “to search out a matter.” God’s government of the universe is beyond human understanding—humans cannot begin to fathom the intentions and operations of it. But it is the glory of kings to search out matters and make them intelligible to the people. Human government cannot claim divine secrecy; kings have to study and investigate everything before making a decision, even divine government as far as possible. But kings who rule as God’s representatives must also try to represent his will in human affairs—they must even inquire after God to find his will. This is their glorious nature and responsibility. For more general information on vv. 2-27, see G. E. Bryce, “Another Wisdom ‘Book’ in Proverbs,” JBL 91 (1972): 145-57.
  3. Proverbs 25:3 tn Heb “heavens for height and earth for depth.” The proverb is clearly intending the first line to be an illustration of the second—it is almost emblematic parallelism.
  4. Proverbs 25:3 sn The proverb is affirming a simple fact: The king’s plans and decisions are beyond the comprehension of the common people. While the king would make many things clear to the people, there are other things that are “above their heads” or “too deep for them.” They are unsearchable because of his superior wisdom, his caprice, or his need for secrecy. Inscrutability is sometimes necessary to keep a firm grip on power.
  5. Proverbs 25:4 tn The Hebrew כֶּלִי (keli) means “vessel; utensil” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB). But purging dross from silver does not produce a “vessel” for the silversmith. Some versions therefore render it “material” (e.g., NIV, NRSV). The LXX says “that it will be entirely pure.” So D. W. Thomas reads כָּלִיל (kalil) and translates it “purified completely” (“Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” VT 15 [1965]: 271-79; cf. NAB). W. McKane simply rearranges the line to say that the smith can produce a work of art (Proverbs [OTL], 580; cf. TEV “a thing of beauty”). The easiest explanation is that “vessel” is a metonymy of effect, “vessel” put for the material that goes into making it (such metonymies occur fairly often in Psalms and Proverbs).
  6. Proverbs 25:5 sn These two verses present first an illustration and then the point (so it is emblematic parallelism). The passage uses imperatives to teach that the wicked must be purged from the kingdom.
  7. Proverbs 25:5 sn “Throne” is a metonymy of subject (or adjunct); it is the symbol of the government over which the king presides (cf. NCV, TEV).
  8. Proverbs 25:5 sn When the king purges the wicked from his court he will be left with righteous counselors and his government therefore will be “established in righteousness”—it will endure through righteousness (cf. NLT “made secure by justice”). But as J. H. Greenstone says, “The king may have perfect ideals and his conduct may be irreproachable, but he may be misled by unscrupulous courtiers” (Proverbs, 264).
  9. Proverbs 25:7 tn The phrase “for him” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
  10. Proverbs 25:7 sn This proverb, covering the two verses, is teaching that it is wiser to be promoted than to risk demotion by self-promotion. The point is clear: Trying to promote oneself could bring on public humiliation, but it would be an honor to have everyone in court hear the promotion by the king.
  11. Proverbs 25:7 tn The two infinitives construct form the contrast in this “better” sayings; each serves as the subject of its respective clause.
  12. Proverbs 25:7 tc Most modern commentators either omit this last line or attach it to the next verse. But it is in the text of the MT as well as the LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, and most modern English versions (although some of them do connect it to the following verse, e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
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Proverbs 25:2-7
Lexham English Bible

2 The glory of God[a] conceals things,
    but the glory of kings searches out things.
3 As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth,
    so is the heart[b] of kings—there is no searching.
4 Remove the dross from silver,
    and it will become a vessel for the smith.
5 Remove the wicked before a king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.[c]
6 Do not promote yourself before the king,
    and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
7 For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,”
    than he humble you before a noble.
What your eyes have seen,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:2 Or “gods”
  2. Proverbs 25:3 Or “mind”
  3. Proverbs 25:5 Hebrew “in the righteousness”
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Proverbs 24
Proverbs 26
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Proverbs 25:15
New English Translation

15 Through patience[a] a ruler can be persuaded,[b]
and a soft tongue[c] can break a bone.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:15 tn Heb “long of anger” or “forbearance” (so NASB).
  2. Proverbs 25:15 tn The two imperfect verbs in this line may be nuanced as potential imperfects because what is described could happen, but does not do so as a rule.
  3. Proverbs 25:15 tn The “tongue” is a metonymy of cause; and so the expression here refers to soft or gentle speech. This fits well with the parallel idea of patience (“long of anger”)—through a calm patient persuasion much can be accomplished. Some English versions relate this figure directly to the persuasion of a ruler in the previous line (cf. TEV “can even convince rulers”).
  4. Proverbs 25:15 sn The idea of breaking a bone uses the hardest and most firm part of the body in contrast to the “softness of the tongue.” Both are figurative, forming a comparison. A gentle speech can break down any stiff opposition.
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Proverbs 25:15
Lexham English Bible

15 With patience[a] a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:15 Literally “With length of face”
  2. Proverbs 25:15 Or “strength”
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Proverbs 24
Proverbs 26
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