Proverbs 26:11-21

11 Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.

12 Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.

13 The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work on his bed.

15 The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin: lifting it again to his mouth is a weariness to him.

16 The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven men who are able to give an answer with good sense.

17 He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his business, is like one who takes a dog by the ears while it is going by.

18 As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and arrows of death,

19 So is the man who gets the better of his neighbour by deceit, and says, Am I not doing so in sport?

20 Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended.

21 Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

Proverbs 26:11-21 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.