New Living Translation
Proverbs 25:14
14A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
Proverbs 25:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
- New International Version (NIV)Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain.
Context of Proverbs 25:14
12To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. 13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer. A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. 15Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones. 16Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
Read all of Proverbs 25Proverbs 25:14 word by word
נְשִׂיאִ֣ים וְ֭רוּחַ וְגֶ֣שֶׁם אָ֑יִן אִ֥ישׁ מִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ל בְּמַתַּת־שָֽׁקֶר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 25:14
- Proverbs 20:6Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?
- 1 Kings 22:11One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”
- Luke 14:11For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:10“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Peter 2:15They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong.
- Jude 1:12When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots.
Commentaries on Proverbs 25:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14A false gift - שקר מתת mattath shaker, a lying gift, one promised, but never bestowed. "Whoso maketh greate boastes, and giveth nothing;" Coverdale. So the Vulgate: "Vir gloriosus, et promissa non complens;" "A bragging man, who does not fulfill his promises," is like clouds which appear to be laden with vapor, and like the wind which, though it blow from a rainy quarter, brings no moistness with it. So the vain boaster; he is big with promise, but…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14The disappointment caused by him who promises much and performs little or nothing, is likened to the phenomena of an eastern climate; the drought of summer, the eager expectation of men who watch the rising clouds and the freshening breeze, the bitter disappointment when the breeze dies off, and the clouds pass away, and the wished for rain does not come.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14Verse 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.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14In Israel, rain is rare. When storm clouds appear but do not bring rain, it is like the disappointment of empty promises. Compare this to Jude’s description of false teachers (Jude 1:12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. clouds--literally, "vapors" (Jr 10:13), clouds only in appearance. a false gift--promised, but not given.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 25:14
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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