The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Old Testament Reading for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, Proverbs 25:6–14, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
III. How a man ought to conduct himself wisely at court. (v. 6–23)
Annotated Text
6. Do not flaunt * before the king (do not put yourself forward to preside over a high office, and to carry out great affairs of the kingdom), and do not stand (in a presumptuous manner and of yourself, out of pride and lust for honor) in the place of the great (of the foremost royal counselors and servants),
(Sirach 3:22ff., 7:4–6, 13:13)
* Hebrew: “Do not force your way into positions of honor”
7. For it is better for you (if you are gifted and made fit by God to serve in distinguished offices, cf. Proverbs 22:29) that one say to you, * “Come up here,” than that you (on account of your presumption, greed for honor, and self-willed exaltation) before the prince (or before another eminent, honorable, and wise man) be humbled , so that your eyes must see ** (and afterwards you yourself have to be ashamed of it, Luke 14:9).
* Luke 14:8ff.
** Hebrew: “whom your eyes have (previously) seen, (but whom you may now no longer be seen by).” See the Hebrew of 2 Kings 25:19.
8. Do not rush hastily to quarrel; for what will you do afterwards (and how will it go with you), when your neighbor has shamed (injured and damaged) you? * (Will it not be done to you as you thought to do to your neighbor? And will they not in turn disgrace you and punish you fittingly? Deuteronomy 19:19)
(Proverbs 20:13; 17:14)
* Hebrew: “when your neighbor (opponent) puts you to shame (and demonstrates publicly how you have acted rashly)”
9. Argue your (own) case with your neighbor (mildly and modestly; counsel and help, as much as ever possible toward reconciliation and toward peace, Matthew 5:23–25, 18:15), and (above all things) do not reveal another’s secret (do not mix yourself in other people’s affairs).
(Sirach 19:13ff.)
10. So that he who hears it does not rebuke you for it (and with these words, in return, disgrace and shame you), and your evil rumor never ceases.
(Proverbs 11:13, 20:19; Sirach 19:6, 19:7, 19:10, 42:29)
11. A * word, spoken in its time (with good deliberation according to the circumstance, place, time and persons) is like golden apples (Luther: “as if they were oranges and lemons”) in silver ** vessels (it is quite fitting, also pleasant and delightful to reasonable people).
* Proverbs 15:23 (Sirach 41:21)
** Hebrew: “skillfully crafted”
12. He who reproves a wise man who listens to him (so that in this way the speech of discipline achieves its desired effect), he is like a golden headband and a golden necklace (Proverbs 1:9).
* Psalm 141:5 (Proverbs 9:8–9; Sirach 6:30ff.)
13. Like the cold of the snow at the time of the harvest (namely, when the snow or ice is kept in deep pits under the earth until summertime, and then is used for the cooling of drinks and for the refreshing of languishing bodies), so is a faithful messenger to those who have sent him, and he refreshes the soul of his lords (when returns, and he has carried out his business well. Luther: “A faithful servant or subject cannot be paid enough”).
* Proverb 13:17
14. Whoever speaks much and does not keep it (Luther: “as the world does”), he is like clouds and wind without rain (Luther: “good words and nothing behind them”).
* 2 Peter 2:17 (Jude 12; Sirach 4:34)
Useful Applications
III. CORRECTION: That one ought to humble himself before high-ranking people, v. 6–7; CORRECTION: That one faithfully keep what has been spoken, v. 14.
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 