Proverbs 26:7-17

7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is ¹one who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like ²a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.^[a]

11 Like ³a dog that returns to his vomit is ⁴a fool who repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man who is ⁵wise in his own eyes? ⁶There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 ⁷The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"

14 As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

15 ⁸The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is ⁹wiser in his own eyes ¹⁰than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

Proverbs 26:7-17 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. [ver. 1]
• 2. [Proverbs 23:35]
• 3. Cited 2 Peter 2:22
• 4. [Exodus 8:15]
• 5. Proverbs 28:11; [Romans 12:16]
• 6. Proverbs 29:20
• 7. Proverbs 22:13
• 8. Proverbs 19:24
• 9. [See ver. 12 above]
• 10. [ver. 25; Proverbs 6:16]; See Job 5:19

Footnotes

• [a]. Or hires a fool or passersby