Just for information purposes .......
Proverbs 25:9 ► |
Parallel Verses New International Version If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence, New Living Translation When arguing with your neighbor, don't betray another person's secret. English Standard Version Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, New American Standard Bible Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another, King James Bible Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Young's Literal Translation Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not, Parallel Commentaries Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary25:1-3 God needs not search into any thing; nothing can be hid from him. But it is the honour of rulers to search out matters, to bring to light hidden works of darkness. 4,5. For a prince to suppress vice, and reform his people, is the best way to support his government. 6,7. Religion teaches us humility and self-denial. He who has seen the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus, will feel his own unworthiness. 8-10. To be hasty in beginning strife, will bring into difficulties. War must at length end, and might better be prevented. It is so in private quarrels; do all thou canst to settle the matter. 11,12. A word of counsel, or reproof, rightly spoken, is especially beautiful, as fine fruit becomes still more beautiful in silver baskets. 13. See what ought to be the aim of him that is trusted with any business; to be faithful. A faithful minister, Christ's messenger, should be thus acceptable to us. 14. He who pretends to have received or given that which he never had, is like the morning cloud, that disappoints those who look for rain. 15. Be patient to bear a present hurt. Be mild to speak without passion; for persuasive language is the most effectual to prevail over the hardened mind. 16. God has given us leave to use grateful things, but we are cautioned against excess. Pulpit Commentary Verses 9, 10. - A tetrastich without parallelism, connected with the preceding maxim. Verse 9. - Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself (Matthew 18:15; see on ver. 8). If you have any quarrel with a neighbour, or are drawn into a controversy with him, deal with him privately in a friendly manner. And discover not a secret to another; rather, the secret of another. Do not bring in a third party, or make use of anything entrusted to you by another person, or of which you have become privately informed, in order to support your cause. Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 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 with, which does not concern the cause in hand, do not divulge it, as persons from a spirit of revenge are apt to do, when they are quarrelling or litigating a point with each other. (b) "secretum alterius", Pagninus, Montanus; "arcanum alterius", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis, Schultens, so Cocceius, Gejerus; "arcanum aliud", Munster; "alienum", Syriac version. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 9, 10. (Compare Mt 5:25, Margin). secret—that is, of your opponent, for his disadvantage, and so you be disgraced, not having discussed your difficulties with him. Proverbs 25:9 Additional Commentaries Context More Proverbs of Solomon …8Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you? 9Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another, 10Or he who hears it will reproach you, And the evil report about you will not pass away.… Cross References Matthew 18:15 "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. Proverbs 11:13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Proverbs 25:10 or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand. Treasury of Scripture Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another: with Matthew 18:5-17 And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me… a secret to another Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit … Proverbs 20:19 He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle … |