Proverbs 25:7

KJV1611 – Modern English

For it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֤י ט֥וֹב אֲמָר־לְךָ֗ עֲ‍ֽלֵ֫ה הֵ֥נָּה מֵֽ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָ לִפְנֵ֣י נָדִ֑יב אֲשֶׁ֖ר רָא֣וּ עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Transliteration

For ṭôb ʾămār-to-you ʿălēh hēnnāh than-hašpîlĕkā before nādîb whom rāʾû ʿênêkā

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *ṭôb*: adjective, masculine singular - good
• *ʾămār*: qal infinitive construct - to say
• *lĕkā*: preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to you
• *ʿălēh*: qal imperative, masculine singular - come up
• *hēnnāh*: adverb - here/hither
• *mē*: preposition - from/than
• *hašpîlĕkā*: hiphil infinitive construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to humiliate you
• *li-pnê*: preposition + construct noun - before
• *nādîb*: noun, masculine singular - noble/prince
• *ʾăšer*: relative pronoun - whom
• *rāʾû*: qal perfect, 3rd person plural - they saw
• *ʿênêkā*: noun, feminine dual construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your eyes

Word Meanings

• *ṭôb*: good/better/preferable
• *ʾămār*: to say/to tell
• *ʿălēh*: come up/ascend/go up
• *hēnnāh*: here/hither/to this place
• *hašpîlĕkā*: to humiliate you/to bring you low/to debase you
• *nādîb*: noble/prince/generous person/dignitary
• *rāʾû*: they saw/they observed/they witnessed

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than to be humiliated in the presence of a nobleman whom your eyes have seen.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the esence of the ince whom thine eyes have seen.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For better{H2896} is it that it be said{H559} unto thee, Come up{H5927} hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower{H8213} in the presence{H6440} of the prince,{H5081} Whom thine eyes{H5869} have seen.{H7200}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For better{H2896} it is that it be said{H559}{(H8800)} unto thee, Come up{H5927}{(H8798)} hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower{H8213}{(H8687)} in the presence{H6440} of the prince{H5081} whom thine eyes{H5869} have seen{H7200}{(H8804)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Better it is yt it be sayde vnto ye: come vp hither, then thou to be set downe in ye presence of ye prynce, whom thou seyst with thine eyes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For better is it, that it be sayde vnto thee, come vp hyther: then thou to be put lower in the presence of the priuce whom thou seest with thyne eyes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For better [it is] that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  For better `that' he hath said to thee, `Come thou up hither,' Than `that' he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.

• World English Bible (2000)

  for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  for it is better for him to say to you,“Come up here,” than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.

Referenced Verses

• Luke 14:7-9 : 7 And he put forth a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best places; saying to them, 8 When you are invited by any man to a wedding, do not sit down in the highest place; lest a more honorable man than you be invited by him; 9 And he who invited you and him come and say to you, Give this man your place; and you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher: then you will have honor in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
• Luke 18:14 : 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled; and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.
• 1 Pet 5:5 : 5 Likewise, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
• Rev 4:1 : 1 After this, I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven. And the first voice I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place hereafter."
• Prov 16:19 : 19 It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.