Proverbs 26:3-13

3 ¹A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and ²a rod for the back of fools.

4 ³Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

5 ⁴Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be ⁵wise in his own eyes.

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and ⁶drinks violence.

7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is ⁷one who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like ⁸a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.^[a]

11 Like ⁹a dog that returns to his vomit is ¹⁰a fool who repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man who is ¹¹wise in his own eyes? ¹²There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 ¹³The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"

Proverbs 26:3-13 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

• 1. [Psalms 32:9]
• 2. See Proverbs 19:29
• 3. [2 Samuel 16:11; 2 Kings 18:36; Luke 23:9]
• 4. See Matthew 16:1-4; Matthew 21:24-27
• 5. Proverbs 28:11; [Romans 12:16]
• 6. [Proverbs 13:2; Job 15:16]
• 7. [ver. 1]
• 8. [Proverbs 23:35]
• 9. Cited 2 Peter 2:22
• 10. [Exodus 8:15]
• 11. Proverbs 28:11; [Romans 12:16]
• 12. Proverbs 29:20
• 13. Proverbs 22:13

Footnotes

• [a]. Or hires a fool or passersby