[2] As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
By flying — Secures itself from the fowler.
Not come — Upon the innocent person, but he shall escape from it like a bird.
[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
According — So as to imitate his folly, by passionate or reproachful speeches.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
According — So as his folly needs and requires, convincing him strongly, reproving him sharply, and exposing him to just shame.
[6] He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
Cutteth off the feet — Of his messenger; bids one go that wants legs.
Drinketh — Drinking, in scripture, frequently denotes the plentiful doing or receiving of any thing.
[7] The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs — Heb. the legs of the lame are lifted up, in going, or in dancing, which is done with great inequality and uncomeliness.
So — No less incident are wise and pious speeches from a foolish and ungodly man.
[8] As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Bindeth — Whereby he hinders his own design of throwing the stone out of it.
So — No less absurd is he that giveth to a fool that honour which he is not capable of using aright.
[9] As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
A thorn — As a thorn is in a drunkard's hand, which he cannot manage cautiously, but employs to his own and others hurt.
So — As unprofitable, and, by accident, hurtful to himself and others.
[10] The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Rewardeth — Will certainly give that recompence which is deserved by fools and transgressors, by such as sin either thro' ignorance, or wilfully.
[14] As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Turneth — Moving hither and thither upon it, but not removing from its place.
[16] The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
A reason — A satisfactory reason of ail their actions.
[17] He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
He — Who is going upon the way.
With strife — In which he is not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle.
That taketh — Exposes himself to needless hazard.
[18] As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
And death — Any instruments of death.
[23] Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Burning — With malice or hatred: A slanderous or evil tongue.
Dross — Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a shew of it, as dross does of silver.
[26] Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Deceit — With false professions of love.
[27] Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Rolleth — Up the hill with design to do mischief to some person.
Proverbs 26 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 2
[2] As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
By flying — Secures itself from the fowler.
Not come — Upon the innocent person, but he shall escape from it like a bird.
Verse 4
[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
According — So as to imitate his folly, by passionate or reproachful speeches.
Verse 5
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
According — So as his folly needs and requires, convincing him strongly, reproving him sharply, and exposing him to just shame.
Verse 6
[6] He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
Cutteth off the feet — Of his messenger; bids one go that wants legs.
Drinketh — Drinking, in scripture, frequently denotes the plentiful doing or receiving of any thing.
Verse 7
[7] The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
The legs — Heb. the legs of the lame are lifted up, in going, or in dancing, which is done with great inequality and uncomeliness.
So — No less incident are wise and pious speeches from a foolish and ungodly man.
Verse 8
[8] As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Bindeth — Whereby he hinders his own design of throwing the stone out of it.
So — No less absurd is he that giveth to a fool that honour which he is not capable of using aright.
Verse 9
[9] As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
A thorn — As a thorn is in a drunkard's hand, which he cannot manage cautiously, but employs to his own and others hurt.
So — As unprofitable, and, by accident, hurtful to himself and others.
Verse 10
[10] The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Rewardeth — Will certainly give that recompence which is deserved by fools and transgressors, by such as sin either thro' ignorance, or wilfully.
Verse 14
[14] As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Turneth — Moving hither and thither upon it, but not removing from its place.
Verse 16
[16] The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
A reason — A satisfactory reason of ail their actions.
Verse 17
[17] He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
He — Who is going upon the way.
With strife — In which he is not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle.
That taketh — Exposes himself to needless hazard.
Verse 18
[18] As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
And death — Any instruments of death.
Verse 23
[23] Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Burning — With malice or hatred: A slanderous or evil tongue.
Dross — Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a shew of it, as dross does of silver.
Verse 26
[26] Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Deceit — With false professions of love.
Verse 27
[27] Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Rolleth — Up the hill with design to do mischief to some person.