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Proverbs 26
1Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.
3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4Don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!"
14As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"
20For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
25When his speech is charming, don't believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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Arrows: Deadly and Destructive Weapons Proverbs 26:18
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
Backsliders: General Scriptures Concerning Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Beds: The Slothful Too Fond of Proverbs 26:14
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
Being Angry Proverbs 26:20
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
Boastfulness Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Breaking Curses Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
Bridle: General Scriptures Concerning Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Busy-Bodies: Bring Mischief Upon Themselves Proverbs 26:17
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Co-Signing Proverbs 26:19
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
Conceit: General Scriptures Concerning Proverbs 26:5, 12, 16
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. / Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. / The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Confidence: False Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Corporal Punishment Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Creation: Effected by God Proverbs 26:10
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
Dealing with a Liar Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Deceit: Hatred often Concealed By Proverbs 26:24–26
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. / When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. / Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Dog: Habits of Returns to Eat his own Vomit Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Dogs Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Donkey: Domesticated: Bridles For Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Door: Hinges For Proverbs 26:14
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
Dross: Figurative Proverbs 26:23
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Drunkards Proverbs 26:9
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Enemies: The Friendship of, Deceitful Proverbs 26:26
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
False Confidence in Self Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Falsehood: General Scriptures Concerning Proverbs 26:18, 19, 24–26, 28
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, / so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” / A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
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Proverbs 26:1 Verse 1
Honour is out of season to those unworthy and unfit for it.
Proverbs 26:2 Verse 2
He that is cursed without cause, the curse shall do him no more harm than the bird that flies over his head.
Proverbs 26:3 Verse 3
Every creature must be dealt with according to its nature, but careless and profligate sinners never will be ruled by reason and persuasion. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt; but some, by the grace of God, are changed.
Proverbs 26:4-5 Verses 4, 5
We are to fit our remarks to the man, and address them to his conscience, so as may best end the debate.
Proverbs 26:6-9 Verses 6-9
Fools are not fit to be trusted, nor to have any honour. Wise sayings, as a foolish man delivers and applies them, lose their usefulness.
Proverbs 26:10 Verse 10
This verse may either declare how the Lord, the Creator of all men, will deal with sinners according to their guilt, or, how the powerful among men should disgrace and punish the wicked.
Proverbs 26:11 Verse 11
The dog is a loathsome emblem of those sinners who return to their vices, 2Pe 2:22.
Proverbs 26:12 Verse 12
We see many a one who has some little sense, but is proud of it. This describes those who think their spiritual state to be good, when really it is very bad.
Proverbs 26:13 Verse 13
The slothful man hates every thing that requires care and labour. But it is foolish to frighten ourselves from real duties by fancied difficulties. This may be applied to a man slothful in the duties of religion.
Proverbs 26:14 Verse 14
Having seen the slothful man in fear of his work, here we find him in love with his ease. Bodily ease is the sad occasion of many spiritual diseases. He does not care to get forward with his business. Slothful professors turn thus. The world and the flesh are hinges on which they are hung; and though they move in a course of outward services, yet they are not the nearer to heaven.
Proverbs 26:15 Verse 15
The sluggard is now out of his bed, but he might have lain there, for any thing he is likely to bring to pass in his work. It is common for men who will not do their duty, to pretend they cannot. Those that are slothful in religion, will not be at the pains to feed their souls with the bread of life, nor to fetch in promised blessings by prayer.
Proverbs 26:16 Verse 16
He that takes pains in religion, knows he is working for a good Master, and that his labour shall not be in vain.
Proverbs 26:17 Verse 17
To make ourselves busy in other men's matters, is to thrust ourselves into temptation.
Proverbs 26:18-19 Verses 18, 19
He that sins in jest, must repent in earnest, or his sin will be his ruin.
Proverbs 26:20-22 Verses 20-22
Contention heats the spirit, and puts families and societies into a flame. And that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning by whisperers and backbiters.
Proverbs 26:23 Verse 23
A wicked heart disguising itself, is like a potsherd covered with the dross of silver.
Proverbs 26:24-26 Verses 24-26
Always distrust when a man speaks fair unless you know him well. Satan, in his temptations, speaks fair, as he did to Eve; but it is madness to give credit to him.
Proverbs 26:27 Verse 27
What pains men take to do mischief to others! but it is digging a pit, it is rolling a stone, hard work; and they prepare mischief to themselves.
Proverbs 26:28 Verse 28
There are two sorts of lies equally detestable. A slandering lie, the mischief of this every body sees. A flattering lie, which secretly works ruin. A wise man will be more afraid of a flatterer than of a slanderer.