Proverbs 26

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXVI. Ver. 2. Causeless.—Gratis; without divine permission. Ver. 3. Whip for the horse.—According to our notions, we should rather say, a bridle for the horse, and a whip for the ass; but it should be considered, that the eastern asses are not only much more beautiful, but better goers than ours; and being active and well broken, they need only a bridle to guide them, whereas their horses being scarce, and often caught wild, and badly broken, are much less manageable, and need the correction of the whip.—Bagster. Ver. 6. Cutteth off the feet.—That is, a fool is as unfit for a messenger as man without feet——Drinketh damage.—“Violence.” So we read of “drinking wrath,” (Job 21:20). Ver.

7. Are not equal.—Hebrew, “Are lifted up;” i.e. one shorter than the other. So we speak of a bad rhyme, or imperfect simile, as lame or halting. Ver. 8. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling.—See margin. {This obscurity refers, as Coverdale understands it, to the custom of throwing a stone to the heap under which a criminal was buried. “As he who throws a stone to Mercury’s heap, so is he who gives honour to a fool.” Mercury was the god of highways; and stones were erected in different parts to guide the traveller; hence those lines of Dr. Young: ‘Death stands like Mercuries In every way; And kindly points us to our journey’s end.’}—Bagster. The marginal rendering is generally rejected.—The meaning is, that as a stone in a sling is thrown away utterly, so is honour bestowed on a fool.

Ver. 9. As a thorn, &c.—The meaning seems to be, that a fool is no more fit to handle a parable, than a drunkard is to handle a thornbush, which re- Ver. 17. A dog by the ears.—That is, a strange dog; for dogs in the East run wild, and are not domesticated, as with us. Ver. 23. Burning lips.—That is, ardent professions of friendship from a wicked heart, however smooth, shining, and splendid they may appear, are like a vile vessel covered over with base metal.—Bagster. Ver. 28. Lying tongue, &c.—He that injures another hates him in proportion to the injury, says Tacitus; and strange to say, in proportion to the innocence of the injured.—Bagster.