Provérbios 26

1 Como a neve no verão, e como a chuva no tempo da ceifa, assim não convém ao tolo a honra.

2 Como o pássaro no seu vaguear, como a andorinha no seu voar, assim a maldição sem causa não encontra pouso.

3 O açoite é para o cavalo, o freio para o jumento, e a vara para as costas dos tolos.

4 Não respondas ao tolo segundo a sua estultícia, para que também não te faças semelhante a ele.

5 Responde ao tolo segundo a sua estultícia, para que ele não seja sábio aos seus próprios olhos.

6 Os pés decepa, e o dano bebe, quem manda mensagens pela mão dum tolo.

7 As pernas do coxo pendem frouxas; assim é o provérbio na boca dos tolos.

8 Como o que ata a pedra na funda, assim é aquele que dá honra ao tolo.

9 Como o espinho que entra na mão do ébrio, assim é o provérbio na mão dos tolos.

10 Como o flecheiro que fere a todos, assim é aquele que assalaria ao transeunte tolo, ou ao ébrio.

11 Como o cão que torna ao seu vômito, assim é o tolo que reitera a sua estultícia.

12 Vês um homem que é sábio a seus próprios olhos? Maior esperança há para o tolo do que para ele.

13 Diz o preguiçoso: Um leão está no caminho; um leão está nas ruas.

14 Como a porta se revolve nos seus gonzos, assim o faz o preguiçoso na sua cama.

15 O preguiçoso esconde a sua mão no prato, e nem ao menos quer levá-la de novo � boca.

16 Mais sábio é o preguiçoso a seus olhos do que sete homens que sabem responder bem.

17 O que, passando, se mete em questão alheia é como aquele que toma um cão pelas orelhas.

18 Como o louco que atira tições, flechas, e morte,

19 assim é o homem que engana o seu próximo, e diz: Fiz isso por brincadeira.

20 Faltando lenha, apaga-se o fogo; e não havendo difamador, cessa a contenda.

21 Como o carvão para as brasas, e a lenha para o fogo, assim é o homem contencioso para acender rixas.

22 As palavras do difamador são como bocados deliciosos, que descem ao íntimo do ventre.

23 Como o vaso de barro coberto de escória de prata, assim são os lábios ardentes e o coração maligno.

24 Aquele que odeia dissimula com os seus lábios; mas no seu interior entesoura o engano.

25 Quando te suplicar com voz suave, não o creias; porque sete abominações há no teu coração.

26 Ainda que o seu ódio se encubra com dissimulação, na congregação será revelada a sua malícia.

27 O que faz uma cova cairá nela; e a pedra voltará sobre aquele que a revolve.

28 A língua falsa odeia aqueles a quem ela tenha ferido; e a boca lisonjeira opera a ruína.

Provérbios 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

Verse 1 Honour is out of season to those unworthy and unfit for it. Verse 2 . He that is cursed without cause, the curse shall do him no more harm than the bird that flies over his head. Verse 3 . Every creature must be dealt with according to its nature, but careless and profligate sinners never will be ruled by reason and persuasion. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt; but ( proverbs 26:4-5 ) remarks to the man, and address them to his conscience, so as may best end the debate. ( 6-9 ) . Fools are not fit to be trusted, nor to have any honour. Wise sayings, as a foolish man delivers and applies them, lose their usefulness. Verse 10 . This verse may either declare how the Lord, the Creator of all men, will deal with sinners according to their guilt, or, how the powerful among men should disgrace and punish the wicked. Verse 11 . The dog is a loathsome emblem of those sinners who return to their vices, ( Verse 12 ) . We see many a one who has some little sense, but is proud of it. This describes those who think their spiritual state to be good, when really it is very bad. Verse 13 . The slothful man hates every thing that requires care and labour. But it is foolish to frighten ourselves from real duties by fancied difficulties. This may be applied to a man slothful in the duties of religion. Verse 14 . Having seen the slothful man in fear of his work, here we find him in love with his ease. Bodily ease is the sad occasion of many spiritual diseases. He does not care to get forward with his business. Slothful professors turn thus. The world and the flesh are hinges on which they are hung; and though they move in a course of outward services, yet they are not the nearer to heaven. Verse 15 . The sluggard is now out of his bed, but he might have lain there, for any thing he is likely to bring to pass in his work. It is common for men who will not do their duty, to pretend they cannot. Those that are slothful in religion, will not be at the pains to feed their souls with the bread of life, nor to fetch in promised blessings by prayer. Verse 16 . He that takes pains in religion, knows he is working for a good Master, and that his labour shall not be in vain. Verse 17 . To make ourselves busy in other men's matters, is to ( proverbs 26:18-19 ) must repent in earnest, or his sin will be his ruin. ( 20-22 ) . Contention heats the spirit, and puts families and societies into a flame. And that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning by whisperers and backbiters. Verse 23 . A wicked heart disguising itself, is like a potsherd covered with the dross of silver. ( 24-26 ) . Always distrust when a man speaks fair unless you know him well. Satan, in his temptations, speaks fair, as he did to Eve; but it is madness to give credit to him. Verse 27 . What pains men take to do mischief to others! but it is digging a pit, it is rolling a stone, hard work; and they prepare mischief to themselves. Verse 28 . There are two sorts of lies equally detestable. A slandering lie, the mischief of this every body sees. A flattering lie, which secretly works ruin. A wise man will be more afraid of a flatterer than of a slanderer.

Chapter Summary

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.