Proverbs 25:7

for it is better for him ¹  to say to you, “Come up here,” ²  than to put you lower ³  before a prince, whom your eyes have seen. ⁴ 

it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have seen with your eyes

For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

It is better to wait for an invitation than to be sent to the end of the line, publicly disgraced! Just because you see something,

It's better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted.

For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.

for 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

For it is better that he say to you, "Come up here," Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

for it is better for him ¹  to say to you, “Come up here,” ²  than to put you lower ³  before a prince, whom your eyes have seen. ⁴ 

¹ tn The phrase “for him” is supplied in the translation for clarity.

² 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.

³ tn The two infinitives construct form the contrast in this “better” sayings; each serves as the subject of its respective clause.

⁴ 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).