Proverbs 26:16-26

16 A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly.
17 Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by [is] one who meddles in a quarrel [that is] not his own.
18 Like a maniac who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so [is] a man who deceives his neighbor, but says "Am I not joking?"
20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
21 [As] charcoal [is] to hot embers and wood [is] to fire, so a man of quarrels [is] to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer [are] like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
23 [Like] {impure silver} which overlays an earthen vessel, [so are] smooth lips and an evil heart.
24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but {inside} he will harbor deceit.
25 When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly.

Proverbs 26:16-26 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.

Footnotes 3

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.