Proverbs 26:15-25

15 The 1sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 The sluggard is 2wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with 3strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a madman who throws 4Firebrands, arrows and death,
19 So is the man who 5deceives his neighbor, And says, "6Was I not joking?"
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no 7whisperer, 8contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a 9contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The 10words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen 11vessel overlaid with silver 12dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He who 13hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up 14deceit in his heart.
25 When he 15speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.

Proverbs 26:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 13

In this chapter is an account of a man of God being sent to exclaim against Jeroboam's altar, and threaten its destruction, of which he gave a sign, which was accomplished, and with it the withering of the king's hand, which was healed upon the prophet's prayer for him, 1Ki 13:1-7, who would have entertained him at his house, but he refused the offer, and departed, 1Ki 13:8-10, but an old prophet in Bethel hearing of him, rode after him, and fetched him back to eat bread with him, through a lie he told him, 1Ki 13:11-19 upon which the word came to the old prophet, threatening the man of God with death for disobeying his command, and which was accordingly executed by a lion that met him in the way, and slew him, 1Ki 13:20-24, of which the old prophet being informed, went and took up his carcass, and buried it in his own sepulchre, where he charged his sons to bury him also when dead, believing that all the man of God had said would be fulfilled, 1Ki 13:25-30 and the chapter is closed with observing the continuance of Jeroboam in his idolatry, 1Ki 13:33,34.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Proverbs 19:24
  • 2. Proverbs 27:11
  • 3. Proverbs 3:30
  • 4. Isaiah 50:11
  • 5. Proverbs 24:28
  • 6. Ephesians 5:4
  • 7. Proverbs 16:28
  • 8. Proverbs 22:10
  • 9. Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 29:22
  • 10. Proverbs 18:8
  • 11. Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:39
  • 12. Proverbs 25:4
  • 13. Psalms 41:6; Proverbs 10:18
  • 14. Proverbs 12:20
  • 15. Psalms 28:3; Proverbs 26:23; Jeremiah 9:8

Footnotes 5

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