Proverbs 15:25
New International Version
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.

New Living Translation
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the property of widows.

English Standard Version
The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries.

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.

King James Bible
The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

New King James Version
The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will set the boundary of the widow.

NASB 1995
The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

NASB 1977
The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh will tear down the house of the proud, But He will cause the boundary of the widow to stand.

Amplified Bible
The LORD will tear down the house of the proud and arrogant (self-righteous), But He will establish and protect the boundaries [of the land] of the [godly] widow.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD tears apart the house of the proud, but he protects the widow’s territory.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD destroys the house of the proud, but He protects the widow’s territory.

American Standard Version
Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD destroys the homes of those who are proud, but he protects the property of widows.

English Revised Version
The LORD will root up the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD tears down the house of an arrogant person, but he protects the property of widows.

Good News Translation
The LORD will destroy the homes of arrogant men, but he will protect a widow's property.

International Standard Version
The house of the proud the LORD will demolish, but he will protect the widow's boundary line.

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow.

NET Bible
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he maintains the boundaries of the widow.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow's borders intact.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

World English Bible
Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
YHWH pulls down the house of the proud, "" And He sets up the border of the widow.

Young's Literal Translation
The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow.

Smith's Literal Translation
The house of the proud will Jehovah sweep away, and he will set up the bound of the widow.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will strengthen the borders of the widow.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Lord will demolish the house of the arrogant. And He will make firm the borders of the widow.

New American Bible
The LORD pulls down the house of the proud, but preserves intact the widow’s landmark.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The LORD will destroy the house of the proud; but he will insure the possession of widows.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH breaks down the house of the proud and he strengthens the border of the widows.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD will pluck up the house of the proud; But He will establish the border of the widow.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord pulls down the houses of scorners; but he establishes the border of the widow.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
24The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol. 25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He protects the boundaries of the widow. 26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.…

Cross References
James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

Isaiah 2:12
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—

Isaiah 13:11
I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.

Luke 1:51-52
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. / He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Job 5:11-12
He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety. / He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.

Psalm 18:27
For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.

Isaiah 26:5
For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust.

Jeremiah 50:31-32
“Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, “for your day has come, the time when I will punish you. / The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to pick him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities to consume all those around him.”

Ezekiel 17:24
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”

1 Samuel 2:7-8
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. / He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.


Treasury of Scripture

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

destroy

Proverbs 12:7
The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

Proverbs 14:11
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Job 40:11-13
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him…

but

Deuteronomy 10:17,18
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: …

Psalm 68:5,6
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation…

Psalm 146:9
The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Jump to Previous
Border Borders Boundaries Boundary Destroy Establish Establisheth Heritage House Intact Keeps Maintains Pluck Plucketh Pride Proud Pulleth Root Safe Tear Tears Uproot Uprooted Widow Widow's
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Border Borders Boundaries Boundary Destroy Establish Establisheth Heritage House Intact Keeps Maintains Pluck Plucketh Pride Proud Pulleth Root Safe Tear Tears Uproot Uprooted Widow Widow's
Proverbs 15
1. A gentle answer turns away wrath














The LORD
This phrase refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God in the Hebrew Bible. It emphasizes God's sovereignty and His active role in the affairs of humanity. The use of "The LORD" underscores the divine authority and power that governs the moral order of the universe. In the Hebrew context, Yahweh is not a distant deity but one who is intimately involved with His creation, guiding and judging according to His righteous standards.

tears down
The Hebrew root for "tears down" is "haras," which conveys a sense of destruction or overthrowing. This action is deliberate and decisive, indicating that God actively opposes those who are proud. The imagery of tearing down suggests a complete dismantling, leaving nothing standing. It serves as a warning that pride leads to downfall, as God Himself will ensure the collapse of those who exalt themselves.

the house of the proud
The "house" symbolizes not just a physical dwelling but the entire estate or legacy of a person. "The proud" refers to those who are arrogant, self-reliant, and dismissive of God's authority. In biblical times, a house represented one's security, status, and future. Thus, the destruction of the house of the proud signifies the total ruin of their achievements and aspirations. This reflects the biblical principle that pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

but He protects
The Hebrew word for "protects" is "natsar," which means to guard, watch over, or preserve. This conveys God's active care and vigilance. Unlike the proud, who face destruction, those who are vulnerable and humble receive God's protection. This protection is not passive but involves God's intentional safeguarding of those who trust in Him.

the boundaries of the widow
In ancient Israel, widows were among the most vulnerable members of society, often lacking a male protector or provider. "Boundaries" refer to property lines, which were crucial for maintaining one's livelihood and inheritance. By protecting the boundaries of the widow, God ensures justice and provision for those who are defenseless. This reflects God's character as a defender of the oppressed and a champion of justice, as seen throughout Scripture (e.g., Psalm 68:5).

(25) The proud--who trust in their own strength; while He will "establish the border," or landmark, of the helpless widow, who has none to cry to but Him. The frequently threatened punishment against one who removes his neighbour's landmark, shews the offence to have been a common form of oppression. (Comp. Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17; Proverbs 22:28; Job 24:2; Hosea 5:10.)

Verse 25. - The Lord will destroy the house of the proud (ch. 12:7; 14:11; 16:18). The proud, self-confident man, with his family and household and wealth, shall be rooted up. The heathen saw how retribution overtook the arrogant. Thus Euripides says ('Heracl.,' 387) -

Τῶν φρονημάτων
Ὁ Ζεὺς κολαστὴς τῶν ἄγαν ὑπερφρόνων

"Zeus, the chastiser of too haughty thoughts." But he will establish the border of the widow. He will take the widow under his protection, and see that her landmark is not removed, and that her little portion is secured to her. The widow is taken as the type of weakness and desolation, as often in Scripture (comp. Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 146:9). In a country where property was defined by landmarks - stones or some such objects - nothing was easier than to remove these altogether, or to alter their position. That this was a common form of fraud and oppression we gather from the stringency of the enactments against the offence (see Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17; and comp. Job 24:2; Proverbs 22:28). In the Babylonian and Assyrian inscriptions which have been preserved, there are many invoking curses, curious and multifarious, against the disturbers of boundaries. Such marks were considered sacred and inviolable by the Greeks and Romans (see Plato, 'De Leg.,' 8:842, 843; Ovid, 'Fast.,' 2:639, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

tears down
יִסַּ֥ח ׀ (yis·saḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5255: To pull or tear away

the house
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the proud,
גֵּ֭אִים (gê·’îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 1343: Lofty, arrogant

but He protects
וְ֝יַצֵּ֗ב (wə·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5324: To take one's stand, stand

the boundaries
גְּב֣וּל (gə·ḇūl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

of the widow.
אַלְמָנָֽה׃ (’al·mā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 15:25 Yahweh will uproot the house (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 15:24
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