Proverbs 26:6

6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.

Proverbs 26:6 in Other Translations

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

6 Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

6 You're only asking for trouble when you send a message by a fool.

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.

6 Whoever uses a fool to send a message cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.

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

6 Sending a message in the hand of a foolish person is like cutting off your feet or drinking something harmful.

Proverbs 26:6 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:6

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
Who knows not how to deliver it in a proper manner, and is incapable of taking the answer, and reporting it as he should; or unfaithful in it, and brings a bad or false report, as the spies did upon the good land; cutteth off the feet;
he may as well cut off his feet before he sends him, or send a man without feet, as such an one; for prudence, diligence, and faithfulness in doing a message, and bringing back the answer, are as necessary to a messenger as his feet are; [and] drinketh damage;
to himself; his message not being rightly performed, and business not done well; which is a loss to the sender, as well as to his credit and reputation with the person to whom he sends him; he hereby concluding that he must be a man of no great judgment and sense to send such a fool on his errand. Such are the unskilful ambassadors of princes; and such are unfaithful ministers, the messengers of the churches; see ( Proverbs 10:26 ) . The words in the original are three sentences, without a copulative, and stand in this order, "[he] that cutteth off feet; [he] that drinketh damage; [he] that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool"; that is, they are alike.

Proverbs 26:6 In-Context

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.

7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

Cross References

• 1. S Proverbs 10:26