Proverbs 26

Similitudes, Instructions

1 Like snow in summer and like ¹rain in harvest, So honor is not ²fitting for a fool.

2 Like a ³sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a ⁴curse without cause does not alight.

3 A ⁵whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a ⁶rod for the back of fools.

4 ⁷Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

5 ⁸Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be ⁹wise in his own eyes.

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

7 Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

11 Like ¹⁰a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who ¹¹repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man ¹²wise in his own eyes? ¹³There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The ¹⁴sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!"

14 As the door turns on its hinges, So does the ¹⁵sluggard on his bed.

15 The ¹⁶sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

16 The sluggard is ¹⁷wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with ¹⁸strife not belonging to him.

18 Like a madman who throws ¹⁹Firebrands, arrows and death,

19 So is the man who ²⁰deceives his neighbor, And says, "²¹Was I not joking?"

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no ²²whisperer, ²³contention quiets down.

21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a ²⁴contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The ²⁵words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

23 Like an earthen ²⁶vessel overlaid with silver ²⁷dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

24 He who ²⁸hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up ²⁹deceit in his heart.

25 When he ³⁰speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Though his hatred ³¹covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be ³²revealed before the assembly.

27 He who ³³digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a ³⁴flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 12:17
• 2. Proverbs 17:7
• 3. Proverbs 27:8; Isaiah 16:2
• 4. Numbers 23:8; Deuteronomy 23:5; 2 Samuel 16:12
• 5. Psalms 32:9
• 6. Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 19:29
• 7. Proverbs 23:9; Proverbs 29:9; Isaiah 36:21; Matthew 7:6
• 8. Matthew 16:1-4; Matthew 21:24-27
• 9. Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 28:11; Romans 12:16
• 10. 2 Peter 2:22
• 11. Exodus 8:15
• 12. Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 26:5
• 13. Proverbs 29:20
• 14. Proverbs 22:13
• 15. Proverbs 6:9
• 16. Proverbs 19:24
• 17. Proverbs 27:11
• 18. Proverbs 3:30
• 19. Isaiah 50:11
• 20. Proverbs 24:28
• 21. Ephesians 5:4
• 22. Proverbs 16:28
• 23. Proverbs 22:10
• 24. Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 29:22
• 25. Proverbs 18:8
• 26. Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:39
• 27. Proverbs 25:4
• 28. Psalms 41:6; Proverbs 10:18
• 29. Proverbs 12:20
• 30. Psalms 28:3; Proverbs 26:23; Jeremiah 9:8
• 31. Matthew 23:28
• 32. Luke 8:17
• 33. Esther 7:10; Proverbs 28:10
• 34. Proverbs 29:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "wandering"
• [b]. Lit "come"
• [c]. Lit "hang down from"
• [d]. Lit "the binding of"
• [e]. Lit "goes up"
• [f]. Or "A master" workman "produces all things, But he who hires a fool is" like "one who hires those who pass by"
• [g]. Lit "with his"
• [h]. Lit "within"
• [i]. Lit "return discreetly"
• [j]. Lit "infuriates himself"
• [k]. Lit "chambers of the belly"
• [l]. Lit "inward part"
• [m]. Lit "his voice is gracious"
• [n]. Lit "its crushed ones"

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.