A-Z: Common sayings from the Bible: Heap burning coals on someone's head

Usage

Doing a good deed to someone who hates us and thus shaming the beneficiary of the deed.

Definition

The burning coals are a metaphor for the deep embarrassment that someone might feel if someone they hate helps them when they need it.

Bible References

Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans 12:20)

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. ²It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. ³As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. ⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; ⁵take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. ⁶Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, ⁷for it is better to be told, Come up here, than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen ⁸do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret, ¹⁰lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. ¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. ¹²Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear. ¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. ¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. ¹⁵With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. ¹⁶If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. ¹⁷Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. ¹⁸A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. ¹⁹Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. ²⁰Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. ²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, ²²for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. ²³The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. ²⁴It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. ²⁵Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. ²⁷It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. ²⁸A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

¹These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. ²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. ³The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. ⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. ⁵Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. ⁶Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: ⁷For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. ⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. ⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: ¹⁰Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. ¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. ¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. ¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. ¹⁴Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. ¹⁵By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. ¹⁶Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. ¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. ¹⁸A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. ¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. ²⁰As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. ²¹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: ²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. ²³The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. ²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. ²⁵As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. ²⁷It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. ²⁸He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ³For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. ⁹Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹²Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. ²⁰To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ³For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. ⁴For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁵So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ⁶Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; ⁷Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; ⁸Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. ⁹Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; ¹¹Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ¹²Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; ¹³Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. ¹⁴Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. ¹⁵Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ¹⁶Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁷Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ¹⁸If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ²⁰Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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