KJV King James Version
[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.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Proverbs 25:20
[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.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
WEB World English Bible
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
ASV American Standard Version
As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, Is as vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
Surrounding context — Proverbs 25
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 [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.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Romans 12:15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Ecclesiastes 3:4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;Isaiah 58:7[Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?James 2:15-16If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,Deuteronomy 24:12-17And if the man [be] poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:Proverbs 10:26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so [is] the sluggard to them that send him.Daniel 6:18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.Job 24:7-10They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that [they have] no covering in the cold.James 5:15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.Psalm 137:3-4For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us [required of us] mirth, [saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Proverbs 25:20
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →