Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; New Living Translation Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. English Standard Version Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, Berean Standard Bible Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; King James Bible Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: New King James Version Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; New American Standard Bible Do not boast in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the same place as great people; NASB 1995 Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; NASB 1977 Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; Legacy Standard Bible Do not promote your majesty in the presence of the king, And in the place of great men do not stand; Amplified Bible Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; Christian Standard Bible Don’t boast about yourself before the king, and don’t stand in the place of the great; Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t brag about yourself before the king, and don’t stand in the place of the great; American Standard Version Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men: Contemporary English Version Don't try to seem important in the court of a ruler. English Revised Version Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: GOD'S WORD® Translation Do not brag about yourself in front of a king or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people, Good News Translation When you stand before the king, don't try to impress him and pretend to be important. International Standard Version Don't magnify yourself in the presence of a king, and don't pretend to be in the company of famous men, NET Bible Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; New Heart English Bible Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; Webster's Bible Translation Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleDo not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; World English Bible Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionDo not honor yourself before a king, "" And do not stand in the place of the great. Young's Literal Translation Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not. Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not show thyself proud before the king, and thou shalt not stand in the place of the great. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAppear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men. Catholic Public Domain Version Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great. New American Bible Claim no honor in the king’s presence, nor occupy the place of superiors; New Revised Standard Version Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleDo not glorify yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Do not boast before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; Brenton Septuagint Translation Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context More Proverbs of Solomon…5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. 6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; 7for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,… Cross References Luke 14:8-11 “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited. / Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place. / But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. ... Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Matthew 20:26-27 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel Isaiah 2:11-12 The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. / For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled— Daniel 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride. Ezekiel 21:26 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted. Job 22:29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly. Treasury of Scripture Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: Proverbs 26:27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. in the presence Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. Jump to Previous Claim Exalt Forth Forward Glorify Glory Great Honor Honour King's Presence Stand ThyselfJump to Next Claim Exalt Forth Forward Glorify Glory Great Honor Honour King's Presence Stand ThyselfProverbs 25 1. observations about kings8. and about avoiding causes of quarrels Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king This phrase advises humility, especially in the presence of authority. In ancient Israel, kings held significant power, and self-promotion could be seen as presumptuous or even rebellious. The biblical context emphasizes humility as a virtue, as seen in the story of Joseph, who waited for God to elevate him in Pharaoh's court (Genesis 41). The cultural context of the time valued honor and shame, and self-exaltation could lead to public disgrace. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches about taking the lowest place at a banquet to be honored by the host (Luke 14:8-11). The king here can also be seen as a type of Christ, the ultimate King, before whom humility is essential. and do not stand in the place of great men; Persons / Places / Events 1. KingRepresents authority and leadership. In ancient Israel, the king was the highest earthly authority, and this proverb advises humility in the presence of such power. 2. Great Men Refers to individuals of high status or influence. The proverb warns against assuming a position among them without being invited. 3. Solomon Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was known for his wisdom and his role as a king, making his advice on humility particularly poignant. 4. Court of the King The setting implied by the proverb, where individuals might be tempted to assert themselves to gain favor or recognition. 5. Ancient Israel The cultural and historical context in which this proverb was written, where social hierarchy and respect for authority were significant. Teaching Points The Importance of HumilityRecognize that true honor comes from God, not from self-promotion. Humility is a virtue that aligns us with God's will and opens the door for His exaltation. Respect for Authority Understand the importance of respecting those in positions of authority. This respect is not just for their position but also for the order God has established. Avoiding Self-Exaltation Be cautious of the temptation to elevate oneself in social or professional settings. Trust that God will place you where you need to be. Wisdom in Social Interactions Exercise discernment in how you present yourself in various social contexts. Seek to serve rather than to be served. God's Timing and Placement Trust in God's timing for your recognition and advancement. He knows the best time and place for you to be honored. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Proverbs 25:6?2. How does Proverbs 25:6 warn against self-promotion in social settings? 3. What does Proverbs 25:6 teach about humility before authority? 4. How can Proverbs 25:6 be applied in modern workplace environments? 5. Which other Proverbs emphasize humility and avoiding self-exaltation? 6. How does Jesus' teaching in Luke 14:8-11 relate to Proverbs 25:6? 7. What is the historical context of Proverbs 25:6 in ancient Israelite society? 8. How does Proverbs 25:6 reflect the values of humility in biblical teachings? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the cultural practices mentioned in Proverbs 25:6? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 25? 11. What is the order of the Bible's books? 12. Who were the scribes in the Bible? 13. Should others praise you instead of yourself? 14. Should others praise you instead of yourself? What Does Proverbs 25:6 Mean Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the kingProverbs 25:6 cautions, “Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king.” The picture is a royal court, yet the wisdom stretches into boardrooms, churches, and family gatherings. • God honors humility. Luke 14:10-11 echoes this proverb: “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place… For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” • Self-promotion invites God’s resistance. James 4:6 reminds, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” • Pride precedes a fall. Proverbs 16:18 warns that “pride goes before destruction,” while Haman’s crash in Esther 6:6-10 illustrates the point vividly. • Wait for the Lord to lift you. Psalm 75:6-7 notes that “exaltation comes… from God.” When recognition matters, let Him choose the timing. Practical takeaway: in any setting where authority is present—boss, teacher, elder, parent—serve quietly, speak modestly, and let character do the talking. and do not stand in the place of great men The proverb continues, “and do not stand in the place of great men.” The issue is not merely seat-selection; it is a heart that presumes superiority. • Know your measure. Romans 12:3 counsels each believer “not to think of himself more highly than he ought, but to think with sober judgment.” • Honor precedes honor. Proverbs 15:33 teaches that “before honor comes humility,” and Philippians 2:3 urges, “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” • Let others praise you. Proverbs 27:2 advises, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” When genuine merit exists, it will be noticed. • Protect unity. Jumping the line breeds resentment and division; choosing the lower place promotes peace (Romans 12:18). Practical takeaway: resist the urge to grab the spotlight. Encourage, defer, and celebrate the accomplishments of others; God sees and rewards. summary Proverbs 25:6 steers us away from self-elevation and seat-grabbing. Humility before earthly authority reflects humility before God, invites His favor, and preserves harmony with others. Choose the lower place, trust the Lord to raise you in His time, and your life will preach a louder sermon than any self-promotion ever could. Verses 6, 7. - Another proverb (a pentastich) connected with kings and great men. Verse 6. - Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king. Do not make display of yourself as though vying with the king in outward circumstances. Septuagint, "Boast not thyself (μὴ ἀλαζονεύον) in the presence of a king." Stand not in the place of great men. Do not pretend to be the equal of those who occupy high places in the kingdom (Proverbs 18:16). Septuagint, "And take not your stand (ὑφίστασο) in the places of chieftains." Says a Latin gnome, "Qui cum fortuna convenit, dives est;" and Ovid wrote well ('Trist.,' 3:4. 25, etc.) -"Crede mihi; bene qui latuit, bene vixit; et intra Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not exalt yourself תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר (tiṯ·had·dar) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 1921: To swell up, to favor, honour, be high, proud in the presence לִפְנֵי־ (lip̄·nê-) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 6440: The face of the king, מֶ֑לֶךְ (me·leḵ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king and do not אַֽל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not stand תַּעֲמֹֽד׃ (ta·‘ă·mōḏ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations in the place וּבִמְק֥וֹם (ū·ḇim·qō·wm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition of great [men]; גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים (gə·ḏō·lîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent Links Proverbs 25:6 NIVProverbs 25:6 NLT Proverbs 25:6 ESV Proverbs 25:6 NASB Proverbs 25:6 KJV Proverbs 25:6 BibleApps.com Proverbs 25:6 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 25:6 Chinese Bible Proverbs 25:6 French Bible Proverbs 25:6 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 25:6 Don't exalt yourself in the presence (Prov. Pro Pr) |