Proverbs 25:6

“Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, etc.] Intrude not thyself into his presence; or rush not into it in a rude and irreverent way; or be not ambitious to be a courtier: or “do not appear glorious”, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; or “honour thyself”f675 as the word signifies; do not appear too gay at court, or make too splendid an appearance, above thy fortune and station; and which may seem to vie with and outdo the king himself, which will not be well taken; princes love not to be equalled, and much less excelled; and stand not in the place of great [men]; where the king’s family or his nobles should stand, his ministers and counsellors of state, and those that wait…”

“Do not intrude into the presence of the king, for the elevation of the humble is honorable, but the humbling of the proud disgraceful (Luk 14:8-10).”

“The pushing, boastful temper is, in the long run, suicidal. It is wiser as well as nobler to take the lower place at first in humility, than to take it afterward with shame. Compare Luke 14:8-10, which is one of the few instances in which our Lord’s teaching was fashioned, as to its outward form, upon that of this book. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Stand not - Do not affect frequent and familiar society with greater persons than thyself. Proverbs 25:9”

“25:6-7 To gain an audience with the king, a wise person will practice humility instead of pride (cp. Matt 20:20-28).”

“Put not forth thyself: Heb. Set not out thy glory, Pro 25:27, Pro 27:2 in the presence: Pro 16:19; Exo 3:11; Sa1 9:20-22, Sa1 15:17, Sa1 18:18-23; Sa2 7:8-17; Psa 131:1; Jer 1:6-10; Amo 7:12-15 Proverbs 25:7”

“There now follows a second proverb with מלך, as the one just explained was a second with מלכים: a warning against arrogance before kings and nobles. 6 Display not thyself before the king, And approach not to the place of the great. 7 For better than one say to thee, "Come up hither," Than that they humble thee before a prince, Whom thine eyes had seen. The גּדלים are those, like Pro 18:16, who by virtue of their descent and their office occupy a lofty place of honour in the court and in the state. נדיב (vid., under Pro 8:16) is the noble in disposition and the nobleman by birth, a general designation which comprehends the king and the princes. The Hithpa. התהדּר is like the reflex forms Pro…”