Amplified Bible
Proverbs 25:20
20Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda, Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.
Proverbs 25:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
- New International Version (NIV)Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Context of Proverbs 25:20
18Like a club and a sword and a piercing arrow Is a man who testifies falsely against his neighbor (acquaintance). 19Like a broken tooth or an unsteady foot Is confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble. Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda, Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart. 21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, And the Lord will reward you.
Read all of Proverbs 25Proverbs 25:20 word by word
מַ֥עֲדֶה בֶּ֨גֶד׀ בְּי֣וֹם קָ֭רָה חֹ֣מֶץ עַל־נָ֑תֶר וְשָׁ֥ר בַּ֝שִּׁרִ֗ים עַ֣ל לֶב־רָֽע׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- he that taketh awayעָדָה‛âdâh · to advanceH5710
- a garmentבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- in coldקָרָהqârâh · coldH7135
- weatherיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- vinegarחֹ֫מֶץchômets · vinegarH2558
- upon nitreנֶ֫תֶרnether · natronH5427
- he that singethשִׁירshîyr shûr · to singH7891
- songsשִׁירshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
- to an heavyרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
Cross-references for Proverbs 25:20
- Deuteronomy 24:12If the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight.
- Job 24:7They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering against the cold.
- Isaiah 58:7Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not to hide yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?
- James 2:15If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day,
- Proverbs 10:26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him to work.
- Psalms 137:3For there they who took us captive demanded of us a song with words, And our tormentors [who made a mockery of us demanded] amusement, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:4A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
- Daniel 6:18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no music or entertainment was brought before him, and he remained unable to sleep.
- Romans 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].
- James 5:15and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Commentaries on Proverbs 25:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20As vinegar upon nitre - The original word נתר nather is what is known among chemists as the natron of the ancients and of the Scriptures, and carbonate of soda. It is found native in Syria and India, and occurs as an efflorescence on the soil. In Tripoli it is found in crystalline incrustations of from one third to half an inch thiek. It is found also in solution in the water of some lakes in Egypt and Hungary. The borders of these lakes are covered with…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Examples of unwisdom and incongruity sharpen the point of the proverb. Pouring vinegar upon nitre or potash utterly spoils it. The effervescence caused by the mixture is perhaps taken as a type of the irritation produced by the “songs” sung out of season to a heavy heart. The verb rendered “taketh away” may have the sense (as in Ezekiel 16:11) of “adorning oneself,” and the illustration would then be, “as to put on a fine garment in time of cold is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 We take a wrong course if we think to relieve those in sorrow by endeavouring to make them merry.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Not only is the incongruity of songs (that is, joyful) and sadness meant, but an accession of sadness, by want of sympathy, is implied.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 25:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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