Proverbs 25:21-22
New English Translation
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,[a]
and the Lord will reward you.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:22 sn The imagery of the “burning coals” represents pangs of conscience, more readily effected by kindness than by violence. These coals produce the sharp pain of contrition through regret (e.g. 18:19; 20:22; 24:17; Gen 42-45; 1 Sam 24:18-20; Rom 12:20). The coals then would be an implied comparison with a searing conscience.
- Proverbs 25:22 sn The second consequence of treating enemies with kindness is that the Lord will reward the act. The fact that this is promised shows that the instruction here belongs to the religious traditions of Israel.
Proverbs 25:21-22
International Standard Version
21 If your enemy hungers, give him food to eat;
and if he thirsts, give him water to drink.
22 For you’ll be piling burning coals of shame[a] on his head
and the Lord will reward you.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:22 The Heb. lacks of shame
Proverbs 28:20
New English Translation
20 A faithful person[a] will have an abundance of blessings,
but the one who hastens[b] to gain riches will not go unpunished.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:20 tn Heb “a man of faithfulness,” although the context does not indicate this should be limited only to males.sn The text does not qualify the nature of the faithfulness. While this would certainly have implications for the person’s righteous acts, its primary meaning may be his diligence and reliability in his work. His faithful work will bring the returns.
- Proverbs 28:20 sn The proverb is not rebuking diligent labor. One who is eager to get rich quickly is the opposite of the faithful person. The first person is faithful to God and to the covenant community; the second is trying to get rich as quickly as possible, at the least without doing an honest day’s work and at the worst dishonestly. In a hurry to gain wealth, he falls into various schemes and will pay for it. Tg. Prov 28:20 interprets this to say he hastens through deceit and wrongdoing.
Proverbs 28:20
International Standard Version
20 The faithful man will prosper with blessings,
but whoever is in a hurry to get rich
will not escape punishment.
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