Proverbs 26:1-7

1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not for a fool.
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so a rod for a simple nation.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.

Proverbs 26:1-7 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.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.