Proverbs 25:21
If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
Douay-Rheims 1899
In The King James Version
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
In Context
22For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
Cross References
1 Samuel 24:20For who when he hath found his enemy, will let him go well away? But the Lord reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day.
2 Chronicles 28:15And the men, whom we mentioned above, rose up and took the captives, and with the spoils clothed all them that were naked: and when they had clothed and shed them, and refreshed them with meat and drink, and anointed them because of their labour, and had taken care of them, they set such of them as could not walk, and were feeble, upon beasts, and brought them to Jericho the city of palm trees to their brethren, and they returned to Samaria.
Proverbs 24:17When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
Matthew 5:44But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
Romans 12:20But if thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 25:21
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. 1. The absurdity here censured is singing songs to a heavy heart. Those that are in great sorrow are to be comforted by sympathizing with them, condoling with them, and concurring in their lamentation. If we take that method, the moving of our lips may assuage their grief ( Job xvi. 5 ); but we take a wrong course with them if we think to relieve them by being merry with them, and… Read the whole commentary →