CHAPTER 25 Apr. 15 
Say the Right Thing at the Right Time
These 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; 5remove 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 neighbour shames you? 9Debate your case with your neighbour, 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.

Causes of Misery and Joy
16Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much and vomit it. 17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour’s house, lest he be weary of you and hate you. 18A man who gives false testimony against his neighbour is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. 19Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot. 20As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. 21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink: 22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you. 23The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face. 24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman. 25Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. 27It is not good to eat much honey; nor is it honourable to seek one’s own honour. 28Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint. 

Commentary

25:3 When Solomon laments that a sinful land has many rulers, but stability comes from a wise ruler (28:2), he is stating an inspired truth; but it is inevitable that he framed it in such terms as justified his own dictatorial rule, as if his wisdom justified him in crushing any opposition leaders. It was really Solomon's self-justification. Solomon taught that the heart of kings is unsearchable, i.e., it cannot be examined, being as far above the earth as heaven is. Solomon thought that his possession of theoretical wisdom placed him in a God-like position above his people, and therefore they dare not even begin to question him or examine him; and none should therefore dare to ‘exalt himself’ in the King’s presence (:6). Truly, “knowledge puffs up”. And our very possession of ‘the truth’ of Christ and the word of God carries with it the same potential temptations, leading us to consider the world so far beneath us, that we can do what we wish with no accountability to anyone.
25:5 This was justifying the way Solomon killed Shimei at the establishment of his kingdom. His teaching of wisdom is constantly mixed with self-justification; our preaching must never be like this. See on 29:7.
25:7 Jesus says that this is exactly what will happen at the day of judgment (Lk. 14:10).
25:16 Solomon warns about only eating a limited amount of the honey you may find. Yet Ecclesiastes 1 and 2 show how Solomon found honey as it were, he had the opportunity to do and experience what he wanted- and he ate so much he became spiritually sick.
25:22 This is applied to each of us in Rom. 12:20.