Proverbs 26:7-17

7 The legs of a disabled person hang limp; so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 It is like binding a stone in a sling to give honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10 Like an archer who wounds everybody is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly.

12 Do you see persons wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them.

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

14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy person in bed.

15 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.

16 The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem than seven who can answer discreetly.

17 Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.

Proverbs 26:7-17 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Meaning of Heb uncertain