Proverbs 26:3-13

3 A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat - and a stick for the back of fools!
4 Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself.
5 Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn't get a swelled head.
6 You're only asking for trouble when you send a message by a fool.
7 A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.
8 Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.
9 To ask a moron to quote a proverb is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk.
10 Hire a fool or a drunk and you shoot yourself in the foot.
11 As a dog eats its own vomit, so fools recycle silliness.
12 See that man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him.
13 Loafers say, "It's dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!" and then pull the covers back over their heads.

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.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.