Proverbs 26
26
1Like snow in summer, like rain in harvest,
honor for a fool is out of place.#There is no fit (“out of place”) between weather and agricultural season.
2Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight,
a curse uncalled-for never lands.#The point is the similarity of actions: a hovering bird that never lands, a groundless curse that never “lands.” It hangs in the air posing no threat to anyone.
3The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass,
and the rod for the back of fools.#Prv 19:29; Sir 33:25.
4#There is no contradiction between these two proverbs. In their answers, the wise must protect their own interests against fools. Or perhaps the juxtaposition of the two proverbs suggests that no single proverb can resolve every problem in life. Do not answer fools according to their folly,
lest you too become like them.
5Answer fools according to their folly,
lest they become wise in their own eyes.
6Those who send messages by a fool
cut off their feet; they drink down violence.
7#Fools either abuse or are unable to use whatever knowledge they have. A thorn: a proverb is “words spoken at the proper time” (25:11). Fools have no sense of the right time; their statements are like thorns that fasten on clothing randomly. A proverb in the mouth of a fool
hangs limp, like crippled legs.
8Giving honor to a fool
is like entangling a stone in the sling.
9A thorn stuck in the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10An archer wounding all who pass by
is anyone who hires a drunken fool.
11As dogs return to their vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.#2 Pt 2:22.
12You see those who are wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for fools than for them.
13#Each verse mentions the sluggard, whom Proverbs regards with derision. The criticism is not against low energy but failure to act and take responsibility. Proverbs’ ideal is the active person who uses heart, lips, hands, feet to keep to the good path. The verses are examples of the sardonic humor of the book. The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the street,
a lion in the middle of the square!”#Prv 22:13.
14The door turns on its hinges
and sluggards, on their beds.
15The sluggard buries a hand in the dish,
too weary to lift it to the mouth.#Prv 19:24.
16In their own eyes sluggards are wiser
than seven who answer with good judgment.
17Whoever meddles in the quarrel of another
is one who grabs a passing dog by the ears.
18Like a crazed archer
scattering firebrands and deadly arrows,
19Such are those who deceive their neighbor,
and then say, “I was only joking.”
20#The three proverbs have a common theme—the destructive power of slanderous words. Certain words are repeated: wood and fire, talebearer. Without wood the fire dies out;
without a talebearer strife subsides.
21Charcoal for coals, wood for fire—
such are the quarrelsome, enkindling strife.#Prv 15:18; 29:22.
22The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels:
they sink into one’s inmost being.#Malicious gossip is compared to delicious food that is swallowed and lodges in the deepest recesses of one’s body. Negative comments are seldom forgotten. Prv 18:8 is a duplicate. #Prv 18:8.
23Like a glazed finish on earthenware
are smooth lips and a wicked heart.#Heart = what is within, and lips (words) = what is expressed, are compared to an earthenware jar covered with glaze.
24With their lips enemies pretend,
but inwardly they maintain deceit;
25When they speak graciously, do not trust them,#Sir 12:10; 27:33.
for seven abominations#Seven abominations: many evil intentions. are in their hearts.
26Hatred can be concealed by pretense,
but malice will be revealed in the assembly.#Hate may be concealed for a time, but it will eventually issue in a deed and become known in the public assembly. There is a play on words: the consonants of the word “hatred” (ś’n) are literally concealed in the word “pretense” (mś’n).
27Whoever digs a pit falls into it;
and a stone comes back upon the one who rolls it.#Eccl 10:8; Sir 27:25–26.
28The lying tongue is its owner’s enemy,
and the flattering mouth works ruin.
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Proverbs 26: NABRE
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Proverbs 26
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 thorn bush 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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