Proverbs 25:20 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

Like vinegar on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood, sorrow gnaws at the human heart.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like him who lays off a garment in cold weather and like vinegar upon soda. [Dan. 6:18; Rom. 12:15.]

American Standard Version (1901)

As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

Common English Bible

Singing a song to a troubled heart is like taking off a garment on a cold day or putting vinegar on a wound.

Catholic Public Domain Version

and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.

Proverbs 25:20 Cross References

Proverbs 10:26

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employers.

Proverbs 25:19

Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.

Proverbs 25:21

If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat, and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink,

Ecclesiastes 3:4

a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

Isaiah 58:7

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Daniel 6:18

Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no entertainment was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

James 5:15

The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.