Proverbios 26

1 Ni la nieve es para el verano,ni la lluvia para la cosecha,ni los honores para el necio.

2 Como el gorrión sin rumbo o la golondrina sin nido,la maldición sin motivo jamás llega a su destino.

3 El látigo es para los caballos,el freno para los asnos,y el garrote para la espalda del necio.

4 No respondas al necio según su necedad,o tú mismo pasarás por necio.

5 Respóndele al necio como se merece,para que no se tenga por sabio.

6 Enviar un mensaje por medio de un necioes como cortarse los pies o sufrir^[a] violencia.

7 Inútil es el proverbio en la boca del neciocomo inútiles son las piernas de un tullido.

8 Rendirle honores al necio es tan absurdocomo atar una piedra a la honda.

9 El proverbio en la boca del necioes como espina en la mano del borracho.

10 Como arquero que hiere a todo el que pasaes quien contrata al necio en su casa.^[b]

11 Como vuelve el perro a su vómito,así el necio insiste en su necedad.

12 ¿Te has fijado en quien se cree muy sabio?Más se puede esperar de un necio que de gente así.

13 Dice el perezoso: «Hay una fiera en el camino.¡Por las calles un león anda suelto!»

14 Sobre sus goznes gira la puerta;sobre la cama, el perezoso.

15 El perezoso mete la mano en el plato,pero le pesa llevarse el bocado a la boca.

16 El perezoso se cree más sabioque siete sabios que saben responder.

17 Meterse en pleitos ajenoses como agarrar a un perro por las orejas.

18 Como loco que disparamortíferas flechas encendidas,

19 es quien engaña a su amigo y explica:«¡Tan solo estaba bromeando!»

20 Sin leña se apaga el fuego;sin chismes se acaba el pleito.

21 Con el carbón se hacen brasas, con la leña se prende fuego,y con un pendenciero se inician los pleitos.

22 Los chismes son como ricos bocados:se deslizan hasta las entrañas.

23 Como baño de plata^[c] sobre vasija de barroson los labios zalameros de un corazón malvado.

24 El que odia se esconde tras sus palabras,pero en lo íntimo alberga perfidia.

25 No le creas, aunque te hable con dulzura,porque su corazón rebosa de abominaciones.^[d]

26 Tal vez disimule con engaños su odio,pero en la asamblea se descubrirá su maldad.

27 Cava una fosa, y en ella caerás;echa a rodar piedras, y te aplastarán.

28 La lengua mentirosa odia a sus víctimas;la boca lisonjera lleva a la ruina.

Proverbios 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "sufrir" . Lit. "beber" .
• [b]. Texto de difícil traducción.
• [c]. "como baño de plata" . Lit. "como plata de escoria" .
• [d]. "porque su corazón " "… " "abominaciones" . Lit. "porque siete abominaciones hay en su corazón" .

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.