1.
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.
Proverbs 26:2. As the bird by wandering— "Curses which fly out of men's mouths causlessly shall no more alight where they would have them, than a sparrow which wanders uncertainly, or a dove which flies away swiftly, will settle according to their direction;" or it may be, Such curses fly as swiftly as those birds, whose property it is to fly up and down, over the head of him against whom they are directed, and never touch him." The words may be rendered, As the sparrow is for wandering, as a wild dove to fly, so the rash curse 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.
6.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
Proverbs 26:6. He that sendeth a message— Schultens renders this, He that cutteth off the feet, he that drinketh down bitterness, he that sendeth commands by the hand of a fool, are equal: That is, there is the same simplicity in the one as in the other of these actions: The two former expressions are intended to exaggerate the latter; and the meaning of the proverb is, "He that employs a fool to execute his commands, does himself the greater injury, and will bring upon himself the greatest uneasiness." The Syriac reads, He drinketh iniquity from under his feet, who sendeth a message by a fool. The proverbial turn of the expression renders it extremely difficult to be understood.
7.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8.
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Proverbs 26:8. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling— The plain meaning of this seems to be, what Bishop Patrick has given in his paraphrase; "As a stone put into a sling stays not long there, so is that honour thrown away which is bestowed upon a fool." Houbigant explains it in the same manner. Some of the versions render it, As he who throweth a stone to Mercury's heap; which is supposed to be an allusion to the superstitious custom, obliging passengers to throw a stone to such heaps in honour of Mercury; but it is very doubtful whether this custom was so old as Solomon's time. See Calmet's note. Parkhurst supposes the meaning to be, As a spark, or small piece of precious stone, in a heap of stones, so is he who giveth honour to a fool. The precious stone in one case, and the honour in the other, are thrown away and lost. See his Lexicon on the word רגם ragam.
9.
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10.
The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Proverbs 26:10. The great God that formed all things— There is a great diversity of opinion respecting this verse. Mr. Peters says, that formed all is the same as forming the universe, and parallel to Isaiah 44:24.; and if so, our rendering is as unexceptionable as any. Houbigant has it, The fool and the drunkard imagine great things: the fool and the drunkard pass over the sea: That is, in the folly and pride of imagination. See his note, and also Schultens.
11.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13.
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
Proverbs 26:13. The slothful man saith, &c.— In this and the following verses, three degrees of sloth are represented; the first, when a man is loth to stir out of doors about his business in the field, in this verse; the second, when he is loth so much as to leave his bed; Pro 26:14 and the third and highest, when he will scarcely put his hand to his mouth: Proverbs 26:15. By which hyperbolical expression, the wise man admirably sets forth the incredible laziness of some, which increases upon them continually, if they will not shake it off: and yet so presumptuous are they withal, he observes Pro 26:16 that they laugh at those who take a great deal of pains to be wise, and fancy themselves much wiser; because without any pains they can find fault sometimes with other men's works. After this follows an admonition against rashly intermeddling in other men's affairs: against backbiters and dissemblers; especially such as are malicious, and cover the malignity of their minds under fair shews of friendship and esteem.
14.
As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15.
The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17.
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18.
As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Proverbs 26:18. Firebrands, arrows, and death— Firebrands and deadly arrows. Houb.
19.
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23.
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Proverbs 26:23. Burning lips, and a wicked heart— Splendid lips, with a wicked heart. Houbigant. The LXX read, Smooth lips, disguising a wicked heart.
24.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Proverbs 26:25. There are seven abominations in his heart— i.e. A great variety of base and wicked designs.
26.
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28.
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Proverbs 26:28. A lying tongue hateth, &c.— A deceitful tongue shall suffer its own example, a deceitful mouth shall fall into ruin. Houbigant. Our translation, however, may be justified; and the meaning is, that it is common for men to hate those to whom they have done ill turns: Proprium humani ingenii est, odisse quem laeseris, says Tacitus; and this aversion is always strong in proportion to the greatness and injustice of the wrong which has been done. See Calmet.