Proverbs 25:21
If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham
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
20As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
22For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head,—and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
Cross References
1 Samuel 24:20Now, therefore, lo! I know that thou, shalt indeed become king,—and that the kingdom of Israel, shall be established in thy hand.
2 Chronicles 28:15Then rose up the men who have been expressed by name—and took the captives, and, all who were naked among them, clothed they out of the spoil, and arrayed them and sandalled them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and conducted them with asses for every one that was exhausted, and brought them to Jericho the city of palm-trees, near unto their brethren,—and then returned to Samaria.
Proverbs 24:17When thine enemy falleth, do not thou rejoice, and, when he stumbleth, let not thy heart exult:
Matthew 5:44But, I, say unto you, Be loving your enemies, and praying for them who are persecuting you:
Romans 12:20But—if thine enemy hunger, be feeding him, if he thirst, be giving him drink; for, this doing, coals of fire, shalt thou heap 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 →