Proverbs 26

Honouring fools, verse 1,8. Undeserved curse, 2. Correction of fools, 3. To answer fools, 4,5. Foolish messengers, 6. Excellent sayings or sentences of fools,7,9. The oppression done by great men by means of their wicked servants, 10. Repented folly, 11. Self-wisdom, 12. Slothful man, 13,14,15,16. Unnecessarily strife, 17. Deceit, with pretence of jesting, 18,19. Whisperer, 20,22. Contentious people, 21. Hypocrisy, hatred concealed, and devices, 23, &c.

1. As snow in Summer, and as rain in harvest; [To wit, are not seemly, but unseasonable and hurtful. In the land of Jud it rained not in harvest-time, or very seldom. See 1 Sam.12.17.] so honour is not seemly for a fool. [that is, dignity, and government, whereby he would bring shame upon himself, and oppress others, besitteth him not.]

2. As a sparrow is (given) to wander away, [See of the Hebrew word (which is here taken for a sparrow), Gen.7.on verse 14. And Lev.14.on verse 4.] as a swallow to flying away; so the curse, which is without cause, [that is, which is done to an innocent person] shall not come. [that is, not hurt him that is cursed, but fly away from him as a bird.]

3. A whip for the horse, bridle for the ass; [Compare Psalms 32:9,10.] and a rod for the back of fools. [compare above chapter 10.13.]

4. Answer not the fool according to his folly: [To wit, in that manner, which he useth in his discourse, namely, with teams of reproach, slanderings, false accusations, and derisions; and so, as that thou suffer thy self by contention to be led away unto unseeming passions, as in hinted in the following words] lest thou also be like unto him.

5. Answer the fool according to his folly: [To wit, according as his folly requireth; namely so, as that it be reproved and confused upon a good and sure ground] lest he be wise in his own eyes. [that is, in his own judgement, or whereby he imagineth and persuadeth himself that he is wife. So below verse 12,16.]

6. He cutteth off (his own) feet, [That is, he maketh that he cannot go on with his business. Or he taketh away from himself the occasion and fitness to perform his affairs, in regard he may do them far better by himself, or by others, then by a fool] (and) drinketh violence [that is, wrongeth himself, and getteth shame and damage by those, to whom he sendeth the fool. The phrase signifieth as much as to endure any mischief, or to be punished therewith. Compare Psalm 75. The annot.on verse 9.] that sendeth messages [Hebr. Words] by hand [that is, by the Ministery. See Exod.3.on verse 13.] of a fool.

7. Lift up the legs of the cripple: so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. [Lift up the legs of the cripple, &c. To wit, that he may be able to use them well in any work. But as this cannot be conveniently done, so neither can a fool utter a wise sentence or proverb aright. Oth. The legs of a cripple are lifted up: meaning one leg more then the other, so that they are unequal. The meaning is, as the legs or shanks of a cripple have no proportion, so are the words and speechs of a fool absurd, and agree not together. This verse may be likewise rendered thus: Take away the legs from the cripple; and the proverbs (which) are in the mouth of fools. Some understand also by legs, the ornaments of the legs, which seem not to becomes a cripple well: and so the sense or meaning would be this, that wise speechs or sentences in the mouth of fools suit no better then legs, or ornaments of the legs do to those that be lame or cripple.]

8. As he that bindeth a (precious) stone [The Hebrew word is likewise taken for a precious stone, Exod.31.5. see the annot] in a sling: [Oth. He that bindeth a (precious) stone in an heap of stones] so is he, that giveth honour to a fool. [that is, dignity, offices, riches, which the fools cannot use aright, but letteth them perish. Hebr. As to bind a precious stone, or, the binding of a precious stone, &c. To wit, is very absurd and unseemly, because the precious stone being slung, cannot effect any special thing, or do any notable exploit, but is lost and gone, as soon as ever it is thrown out of the sling: so is be, etc.]

9. (As) a thorn entereth [Heb. Goeth up] into the hand of a drunkard; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. [That is, as a drunkard hurteth himself, or others, when he handleth a thorn: so neither can a fool use a good proverb or sentence well.]

10. The great ones cause grief to every man: and hire fools, [Of fools, see above chapter 1.on verse 22.] and hire trangressors. [oth. Passengers, or, those that pass by, who ever they might be, if they be but onely bent to do as the great ones that hire them, would have them to do. Heb. The great one causeth grief to every one: and hireth a fool, and hireth trangressors. Meaning Tyrants; or Lords, and Princes, or such kind of great ones, who are so awed and reverenced by them, that they cause trouble and grief to every one. For which end they entertain fools and transgressors in their service, whereof the first cannot, and the other will not do good.]

11. As a dog returneth to his vomit: [To wit, to swallow it in again, having forgotten that what he had vomited up, did not well agree with him] (so) doth a fool re-assume his folly, [compare 2 Pet.2.22.]

12. Hast thou seen a man, that is wise in his (own) eyes? [See above on verse 5.] (there) in more expectation [to wit, of becoming wise and virtuous] of a fool, [see above chapter 1.on verse 22.] then of him. [so bel.ch.29.20.]

13. The slothful man saith, there is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. [Compare above ch.22.13.]

14. (As) a door turneth about upon his hinge; [To wit, whereon it hangeth, and is fastened] so (doth) the slothful man upon his bed. [to wit, without coming off from it, to do the work that concerneth him.]

15. The slothful hideth his hand in (his) bosome; [Oth. In the dish] he is too weary, to bring it again to his mouth [see above chapter 19.24. and the annotate. Thereon.]

16. The sluggard is wiser in his (own) eyes, [See ab.on verse 5. Item below chapter 28.11.] then seven men) [that is, then many men. It is a certain number for an uncertain. See above chapter 6.on verse 31.] that answer (with) reason. [that is, that are able to speak rationally, or wisely, or with good understanding, and right judgement. Of the Hebrew word, see Job 12:20.on the word judgement.]

17. The passenger that fretteth himself at a strife, (that) concerneth him not, [Heb. Not his: that is, that is not his] is (like) him that taketh a dog by the ears. [that is, is like him that without cause runneth into danger of trouble and mischief, as he that pullet a dog by the ears, provoketh him to leap upon him, and bite him.]

18. As one that feigneth himself to be mad, [That is, behaveth himself as if he were out of his wits, or simple] who casteth fire-sparks, [or, firebrands, or, flames. Oth. Fetters, bond, or, snares, wherewith a man is tied, and made fast, especially about his hands] arrows, and deadly things: [Heb. Death; that is, which are able to bring death unto a man.]

19. So is a man, that deceiveth his neighbour: and saith, Am not I in sport? [Heb. Am not I sporting, or, jesting; that is, that which I did, was not done wilfully, and with an evil intent, but onely in jest, and in sport, and in way of delight, to recreate my self, to make others merry. As under a pretence of feigned madness, in throwing of fire-brands, arrows and deadly things, no man can excuse himself, when he hath done mischief to a man; so neither is he to be excused, that under a cover and pretence of jesting, and sporting, hurteth his neighbour: Oth. That feigneth himself to faint.]

20. When there is no word, the fire goeth out: and when there is no whisperer [Of the word whisperer, see above chapter 16.on verse 28.] brawling is stilled. [Hebr. Is silent; that is, is stilled. [Heb. Is silent; that is, is still, and ceaseth. See of the Hebr. Word, Jos.10.on verse 12. Compare above chapter 22.10.]

21. (As) the dead coal is to the burning coal, and the wood to the fire: so is the brawling man, [Heb. A man of brawlings, or, of contentions] to kindle strife. [Compare ab.ch.15.18. and bel.ch.29.22.]

22. The words of a whisperer are as (the words) of them that are beaten, and which go down into the innermost (parts) of the belly. [See above chapter 18.8. where the same proverb is propounded in the self-same words.]

23. Burning lips, and a wicked heart, [Meaning those men, that seem to speak out of fervent love, and good affection, but yet bear an evil heart to those, to whom they speaks] are (as) a pot-sherd over-laid with dross of silver. [Which (to wit, pot-sherd) is in it self but of small value, but outwardly in regard of the brightness and similitude or likeness of the silver, sendeth forth a brave lustre and splendour, which deceiveth many men, who think the pot-sherd that is onely covered over and over-laid with dross and scum of silver, to be nothing but pure beaten or substantial silver.]

24. He that beareth hatred, behaveth himself strange with his lips: but in his innermost (parts) [That is, in his heart. See Job 20.on verse 14.] he useth deceit. [that is, he feigneth himself to be otherwise, without by his words, then he is really and indeed within in his heart.]

25. When he [To wit, the hater, or he that beareth hatred, of whom is spoken in the foregoing verse] intreateth with his voice, believe him not: for seven [that is, many, as above verse 16. And chapter 24.16. See above chapter 6.on verse 31.] abominations [that is, abominable thoughts and devices to do mischief] are in his heart.

26. (Whose) hatred is covereth by deceit, [Oth. (as) in a wilderness; that is, in a place wherein no man is, that seeth, or heareth wickedness] his wickedness shall be discovered in the congregation: [that is, shall be laid open before all the world, either in this life (as oftentimes cometh to pass) or leastwise at the last day in the general and universal judgement, unless he do repent.]

27. He that diggeth a pit, [To wit, to cause another to fall into it] shall fall therein; [Compare Ps.7.16. and 9.16. and 10.2. and 57.7. Eccles.10.8.] and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him. [to wit, upon him, that rolled the stone upwards against or towards an high place, to cause it to fall upon some or other.]

28. A false tongue [Hebr. A tongue of falsehood: that is, a man that useth, or dealeth with a false tongue] hateth those whom it bruiseth in pieces: [Or, shall bruise in pieces: that is, consume and destroy] and a slippery [that is, flattering, and soothing. Compare above chap.5.3. and the annot.] mouth, causeth over throw. [that is, striketh a man down to the ground.]