Proverbs 25:9

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: DEBATE THY CAUSE WITH THY NEIGHBOUR (HIMSELF), AND DISCOVER NOT A SECRET TO ANOTHER. Even when thy cause of debate is just, go and deal directly with the principal, instead of 'discovering to another' the offence which ought to be "a secret" (). When third parties intervene, the pride of the principal is roused not to yield. So Abraham with Lot (), and with Abimelech (); Jepthah with the King of Ammon (). Do not blacken your adversary's character to establish that you are right in the quarrel. Mention only what is to the point at issue; not other things comm...

Verse Proverbs 25:9. _DEBATE THY CAUSE WITH THY NEIGHBOUR_] Take the advice of friends. Let both sides attend to their counsels; but do not tell the _secret_ of thy business to any. After squandering your money away upon lawyers, both _they_ and the _judge_ will at last leave it to be settled by _twelve_ of your fellow citizens! O the folly of going to law! O the blindness of men, and the rapacity of unprincipled lawyers! On this subject I cannot but give the following extract from Sir _John Hawkins's_ Life of Dr. Johnson, which he quotes from Mr. _Selwin_, of London: "A man who deliberates about going to law should have, 1. A good cause; 2. A good purse; 3. A good skilful attorney; 4. Good evidence; 5. Good able counsel; 6. A good upright judge; 7. A good intelligent jury; and with

An anticipation of the highest standard of ethical refinement Matthew 18:15, but with a difference. Here the motive is prudential, the risk of shame, the fear of the irretrievable infamy of the betrayer of secrets. In the teaching of Christ the precept rests upon the divine authority and the perfect example....

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-29:27 PART VI. SECOND GREAT COLLECTION OF SOLOMONIC PROVERBS, gathered by "the men of Hezekiah," in which wisdom is set forth as the greatest blessing to the king and his subjects. PROVERBS 25:1 _The_ _superscription: _THESE ARE ALSO PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, WHICH THE MEN OF HEZEKIAH KING OF JUDAH COPIED OUT. The word "also" implies that a previous collection was known to the compiler of the present book—probably the one which we have in Pr 10-22:16, of which nine proverbs are inserted here. But there was still a large number of proverbial sayings attributed to Solomon, and preserved partly by oral tradition and partly in writing, which it was advisable to colle

DEBATE THY CAUSE WITH THY NEIGHBOUR [HIMSELF],.... Between thee and him alone; lay the matter before him, and hear what he has to say for himself, by which you will better judge of the nature of the cause; try to compromise things, and make up the difference between you, which is much better than to commence a lawsuit; at least such a step should be taken first; see Matthew 5:25; AND DISCOVER NOT A SECRET TO ANOTHER; if the thing in controversy is a secret, do not acquaint another person with it; keep it among yourselves, if the affair can be made up without bringing it into a court of judicature; besides, by communicating it to others, you may have bad counsel given, and be led to take indirect methods: or, "the secret of another", or, "another secret do not discover" b; if you know anything scandalous and reproachful of your neighbour and his family, you are contending w

IV. THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON COLLECTED BY THE MEN OF HEZEKIAH CHAPTER 25 Here begin the proverbs which the good king Hezekiah, under the guidance of the Spirit of God, added to this book. “This title is interesting as affording a proof that a revival of literary activity accompanied the revival of religion and of national prosperity which marked the reign of Hezekiah. The men of Hezekiah were doubtless a body of scribes engaged under the direction of the king in literary labors.” Very fittingly the opening verses of this collected portion of proverbs relate to the king. While it is the glory of God to conceal a thing, the glory of kings is to search out a matter. God has many things concealed as to Himself, the great universe, creation and His ways in providence; but kings should inquire diligently into the matters brought before them and search them out in their administration of justi...

FIRST DIVISION. In general character this division shows a resemblance to the Sayings of the Wise, containing a number of quatrains and synthetic couplets, and but few antithetic couplets. PROVERBS 25:2 B. A series of three quatrains relating to kings. Proverbs 25:4 b. Very obscure. Refining silver does not produce a vessel, and the parallelism with Proverbs 25:5 b is unsatisfactory. LXX it will be wholly purified probably represents the original text. Proverbs 25:6 f. _cf._ Luke 14:8....

WITH THY NEIGHBOUR. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 13:8; Genesis 21:25);...

The admonition in these verses is general: Be not of a contentious spirit; plunge not hastily into quarrels (comp. the use of the same word "strive," Genesis 26:20; Exodus 21:18; Deuteronomy 33:8). But there is a special and perhaps primary reference to _going to law_(obs. _thy cause, Proverbs 25:9_, the same Heb. word as in Exodus 23:2-3). The passage will then nearly resemble our Lord's teaching: so far from "going forth hastily to strive," "agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him"; show a placable dispositio

CHAPTER 25 TEXT Proverbs 25:1-10 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 wicked from before 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.