1 Samuel 15:17

15:17 Samuel said, “Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord chose ¹  you as king over Israel.

Proverbs 15:33

15:33 The fear of the Lord provides wise instruction, ² 

and before honor comes humility. ³ 

Proverbs 25:6-7

25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,

and do not stand in the place of great men;

25:7 for it is better for him ⁴  to say to you, “Come up here,” ⁵ 

than to put you lower ⁶  before a prince,

whom your eyes have seen. ⁷ 

[15:17]  ¹ tn Heb “anointed.”

[15:33]  ² tn Heb “[is] instruction of wisdom” (KJV and NASB similar). The noun translated “wisdom” is an attributive genitive: “wise instruction.”

[15:33]  ³ tn Heb “[is] humility” (so KJV). The second clause is a parallel idea in that it stresses how one thing leads to another – humility to honor. Humble submission in faith to the Lord brings wisdom and honor.

[25:7]  ⁴ tn The phrase “for him” is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[25:7]  ⁵ sn This proverb, covering the two verses, is teaching that it is wiser to be promoted than to risk demotion by self-promotion. The point is clear: Trying to promote oneself could bring on public humiliation; but it would be an honor to have everyone in court hear the promotion by the king.

[25:7]  ⁶ tn The two infinitives construct form the contrast in this “better” sayings; each serves as the subject of its respective clause.

[25:7]  ⁷ tc Most modern commentators either omit this last line or attach it to the next verse. But it is in the text of the MT as well as the LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, and most modern English versions (although some of them do connect it to the following verse, e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).