Proverbs 26:4-14

4 ¹Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

5 ²Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be ³wise 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 ⁴a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who ⁵repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man ⁶wise in his own eyes? ⁷There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The ⁸sluggard 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 ⁹sluggard on his bed.

Proverbs 26:4-14 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. Proverbs 23:9; Proverbs 29:9; Isaiah 36:21; Matthew 7:6
• 2. Matthew 16:1-4; Matthew 21:24-27
• 3. Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 28:11; Romans 12:16
• 4. 2 Peter 2:22
• 5. Exodus 8:15
• 6. Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 26:5
• 7. Proverbs 29:20
• 8. Proverbs 22:13
• 9. Proverbs 6:9

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "hang down from"
• [b] Lit "the binding of"
• [c] Lit "goes up"
• [d] Or "A master" workman "produces all things, But he who hires a fool is" like "one who hires those who pass by"
• [e] Lit "with his"
• [f] Lit "within"