Proverbs 25:5

Pro 25:5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Ver. 5. Take away the wicked.] Who are compared elsewhere also to dross, {Eze 22:19} and fitly; for as dross is a kind of unprofitable earth, and hath no good metal in it; so in the wicked is no good to be found, but pride, worldliness, &c. Frobisher, in his voyage to discover the Straits, being tossed up and down with foul weather, snows, and unconstant winds, returned home, having gathered a great quantity of stones, which he thought to be minerals, from which, when there could be drawn neither gold nor silver, nor any other metal, we have seen them, saith Master Camden, {a} cast forth to fix the highways. Evil counsellors about a prince are means of a great deal of mischief, as were Doeg, Haman, Rehoboam’s and Herod’s flatterers, Pharaoh’s sorcerers, &c. Of a certain prince of Germany it was said, Esset alius, si esset apud alios; He would be another man, if he were but among other men. Say they be not so drossy, but that some good ore is to be found in them; yet all is not good that hath some good in it. It is Scaliger’s note, Malum non est nisi in bono. The original nature of the devil is good, wherein all his wickedness subsisteth. When one highly commended the cardinal Julian to Sigismund, he answered, Tamen Romanus est, Yet he is a Roman, and therefore not to be trusted. Those cardinals and Popish bishops being much about princes, have greatly impoisoned them, and hindered the Reformation. Zuinglius fitly compares them to that wakeful dragon that kept the golden fleece, as the poets have feigned. They get the royalty of their ear, and then do with them whatsoever they wish. David therefore vows, as a good finer, to rid the court of such dross, {Psa 101:4} and gives order upon his death bed to his son Solomon, to take out of the way those men of blood, {1Ki 2:5-9} that his throne might be established in righteousness.

{a} Camden’s Elizabeth, fol. 189.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

It is not enough that he be pure himself: but that he put away others that be corrupted.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

before--or, "in presence of," as courtiers stood about a king.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(5) His throne shall be established in righteousness—whereas violence and wrong pull it down. (Jer_21:12; Jer_22:3, sqq.; Zec_7:9, sqq.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Take away the wicked from before the king,.... Wicked ministers and counsellors; they are the "dross", worthless and useless; yea, hurtful and pernicious. The king is the "refiner", for whom the vessel is; the kingdom is the silver vessel refined; and which becomes much the better, when wicked men are removed from the court and cabinet council of kings; as well as the king is the happier, and his throne more firm and secure, as follows:

and his throne shall be established in righteousness; which he shall execute, wicked ministers being removed from him, who advised him to take unrighteous measures; and others being put in their room, who counsel him to do acts of justice; whereby his throne is secured, and he sits firm upon it, which before was tottering and shaking, and lie in great danger of being removed from it.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The interpretation of the proverb of Pro 25:4. The king himself, like the Lord whom he represents, is to sit as “a refiner of silver” Mal 3:3.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Justice. The wicked in a kingdom resemble rust on silver. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

From before the king; from his court and councils.

Shall be established, by removing them who by their wicked counsels and practices provoked God’s displeasure against the king, and blasted his reputation, and alienated the hearts of his people from him.

Established in righteousness, by such impartial execution of justice.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Take away the wicked from before the king. Let the wicked be removed from the presence of the king, as dross is separated from the pure silver. (see the same metaphor, Isa_1:25 Jer_6:29, etc.) And his throne shall be established in righteousness. (Pro_16:12:29:14) The king detects the evil and punishes them; and this confirms his rule and secures the continuance of his dynasty. Thus righteousness triumphs, and wickedness is properly dealt with. Septuagint, "Slay the ungodly from the face of the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.