Proverbs 26:2-12

2 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.^[a]

4 Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you'll be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he'll become wise in his own eyes.^[b]

6 The one who sends a message by a fool's hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.^[c]

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.

8 Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.^[d]

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by^[e] the hand of a drunkard.

10 The one who hires a fool, or who hires those passing by, is like an archer who wounds everyone.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.^[f]

Proverbs 26:2-12 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

• [a]. Pr 10:13; 19:29
• [b]. Pr 26:12
• [c]. Pr 10:26
• [d]. A stone bound in a sling would not release and could harm the person using the sling. A modern equivalent is jamming a cork in a gun barrel.
• [e]. Lit thorn that goes up into
• [f]. Pr 3:7; 26:5