Monday, August 25, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Proverbs 25:6–10

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 directly,
and do not disclose another’s secret;
or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute will have no end. (NRSV)

Reflection

We could flip to almost any page in the book of Proverbs and put a finger on a verse that, thirty centuries later, makes sense and is applicable to twenty-first-century life. That is one reason that Proverbs is considered part of the “wisdom literature” of the Old Testament. Read carefully, the pithy exhortations convey not just information but also inspire wisdom. Some terms might need updating: “king’s presence” could be “my boss’s office,” and “nobleman” could be “office mate,” etc.

The first couple of verses ring a bell, reminding us of Jesus’ parable about seating at the wedding feast, where he asserts that “the humble will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7–11). That wise advice had endured for many centuries and still does. The next couplet warns us not to rush to judgment about something we observed, perhaps hastily, and later be embarrassed for having broadcast erroneously. Finally, you and your friend argue a point. But then you boast to another about how smart you were, thereby betraying the confidence of your first friend. Who won? Not you, who now may have alienated two friends.

The words of Proverbs, as they have been translated and interpreted, may seem antiquated, but many, when refreshed a little for twenty-first-century brains, are pretty apt.

Prayer

All-knowing God, guide me to your words as spoken through the wisdom of the ancient faithful, reminding me of simple, clear, and enduring truths. Amen.

Written by Rebecca Dixon, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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