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25 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great,
for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen
do not hastily bring into court,
for what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
and do not reveal another’s secret,
lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute have no end.
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Like clouds and wind without rain
is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
(ESV)
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”
Proverbs 25:21-22 ESV
At the end of Romans 12, we see Paul quote this passage almost word for word. He adds his own summary in verse 21.
“To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:20-21 ESV
The thought here is two-fold. First, the love extended must be sincere. We see this in verse 9 when Paul writes, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” When love is sincere, it penetrates the heart. Sincere love, as defined and demonstrated by Christ, is unconditional. It does not expect anything in return, and it serves completely without holding back.
Second, when the love is sincere, it allows the giver to avoid harboring bitterness. In this way, it is proactive against the traps of the enemy. The snare Satan uses to trip us is bitterness and jealousy. This comes easily with our enemies. Loving others instead of returning evil for evil harnesses our ego and pride. When we unconditionally love our enemies like Christ, their conscience is overwhelmed by a deed they are unworthy to receive. This is the essence of the Gospel. This is what it means to live and extend God’s Kingdom.