Proverbs 25:21
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
ASV Byzantine Text
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 wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
Cross References
1 Samuel 24:20And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
2 Chronicles 28:15And the men that have been mentioned by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
Proverbs 24:17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;
Matthew 5:44but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you;
Romans 12:20If therefore thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing 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 →