Proverbs 26:15-27

15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food. He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.

16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.

17 [Like] grabbing a dog by the ears, [so] is a bystander who gets involved in someone else's quarrel.

18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

20 Without wood a fire goes out, and without gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 [As] charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire, so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.

22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, and they go down into a person's innermost being.

23 [Like] a clay pot covered with cheap silver, [so] is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.

24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech, but inside he holds on to deceit.

25 When he talks charmingly, do not trust him because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.

26 His hatred is deceitfully hidden, but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Proverbs 26:15-27 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.