261 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. [1]
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. [2] 7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 As he that bindeth [3] a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great [4] God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. [5]
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
261 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
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. 9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
261 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 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 one who gives honor to a fool. 9 Like a 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.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
261 We no more give honors to fools than pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest.
2 You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.
3 A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat - and a stick for the back of fools!
4 Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself. 5 Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn't get a swelled head.
6 You're only asking for trouble when you send a message by a fool. 7 A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle. 8 Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column. 9 To ask a moron to quote a proverb is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk.
10 Hire a fool or a drunk and you shoot yourself in the foot.
11 As a dog eats its own vomit, so fools recycle silliness.
12 See that man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him.
261 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool's back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. 9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
261 Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
4 Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
6 Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison! 7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg. 8 Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot. 9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
12 There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 26:1-12
Commentary on Proverbs 26:1
(Read Proverbs 26:1)
Honour is out of season to those unworthy and unfit for it.
Commentary on Proverbs 26:2
(Read Proverbs 26:2)
He that is cursed without cause, the curse shall do him no more harm than the bird that flies over his head.
Commentary on Proverbs 26:3
(Read Proverbs 26:3)
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.
Commentary on Proverbs 26:4-5
(Read Proverbs 26:4-5)
We are to fit our remarks to the man, and address them to his conscience, so as may best end the debate.
Commentary on Proverbs 26:6-9
(Read Proverbs 26:6-9)
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.
Commentary on Proverbs 26:10
(Read Proverbs 26:10)
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.
Commentary on Proverbs 26:11
(Read Proverbs 26:11)
The dog is a loathsome emblem of those sinners who return to their vices, 2 Peter 2:22.
Commentary on Proverbs 26:12
(Read Proverbs 26:12)
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.