the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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Proverbs 26:8
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
As one that binds a stone in a sling, So is he that gives honor to a fool.
Giving honor to a foolish person is like tying a stone in a slingshot.
Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honor to a fool.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.
As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
Are you going to honor a fool? Why not shoot a slingshot with the rock tied tight?
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.
Like one who ties his stone to the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Showing honor to a fool is as bad as tying a rock in a sling.
As a small stone in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
As hee that bindeth a stone in a sling; so is hee that giueth honour to a foole.
He who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling.
It is like binding a stone in a sling to give honor to a fool.
As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he yt giueth glory to a foole.
Like a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Praising someone who is stupid makes as much sense as tying a stone in a sling.
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
He that setteth a foole in hye dignitie, that is euen as if a man would bynde a stone in a sling.
Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Giving honor to a foolis like binding a stone in a sling.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Like binding a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
As he binding a stone on a sling, so is he giving honor to a fool.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
He yt setteth a foole in hye dignite, yt is eue as yf a man dyd cast a precious stone vpo ye galous.
Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.
Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is one who gives honor to a fool.
Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like one who binds a stone in a sling,So is he who gives glory to a fool.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
bindeth a stone in a sling: Heb. putteth a precious stone in a heap of stones, This probably refers, as Coverdale understands it, to the custom of throwing a stone to the heap under which a criminal was buried. So the Vulgate, Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii; ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem, "As he who throws a stone to Mercury's heap, so is he who gives honour to a fool." Mercury was a heathen 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."
so: Proverbs 26:1, Proverbs 19:10, Proverbs 30:22
Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 24:17 - the princes of Judah
Cross-References
Now Isaac again dug [and reopened] the wells of water which had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, because the Philistines had filled them up [with dirt] after the death of Abraham; and he gave the wells the same names that his father had given them.
But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing [spring] water,
"Out of the window she looked down and lamented (cried out in a shrill voice), The mother of Sisera through the lattice, 'Why is his chariot delayed in coming? Why have the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?'
For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.
Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given you under the sun—all the days of vanity and futility. For this is your reward in life and in your work in which you have labored under the sun.
"My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is gazing through the lattice.
For as a young man marries a virgin [O Jerusalem], So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling,.... That so fastens it to it that it cannot be slung out of it, it becomes useless and does not answer the end for which it is put there; or that places it there that it may be cast out, and is cast out, and so is thrown away, and of no more use; or that puts a precious stone, so some interpret it, in a heap of common stones, even in such a heap as is used at the stoning of malefactors; or increases the heap of stones on such, which the more exposes them, and the greater reproach they are loaded with; so the more a fool is praised, it does but bring to mind his folly, and issues in his greater disgrace, so Gussetius o: or rather it has respect to a precious stone put in such a heap of stones, as Luther; or else, according to Schultens, to such an one put into a heap of sepulchral stones; or, as Aben Ezra, that binds up a stone, a common stone, in purple, which to do is ridiculous, so R. Joseph Kimchi; the Vulgate Latin version renders it,
"as he that casts a stone to Mercury's heap;''
a Heathen deity, called by the eastern people Mertholin and Margenah p, which last is near the same with the Hebrew word here used; whose statue was set up where two or more ways met, to direct travellers; and who therefore out of respect to the deity, and to show gratitude to him, used to cast a stone to the heap for the support of it; and which stones, set up in such doubtful places, were dedicated to him, and were called after his name q; and not only travellers did this in honour of the deity, and to make his statue more manifest r, but also for profit, to clear the way from stones; and this custom obtained with the Indians, Arabs, Saracens, and now does with the Mahometans s: and such heaps of stones were also placed in cities, and at the doors of houses, in honour of Mercury, and were called from him Hermae t; these stones were also erected for borders of countries u. But it is not probable that this custom obtained in Solomon's time; and yet some Jewish writers interpret it to this sense, as if he that gives honour to a fool is like him that casts a stone to Mercury; and Jarchi in the text observes it as the sense of some of their Rabbins,
"that he that teacheth the law to a disciple that is not fit, is as he that casts a stone to Mercury;''
and to cast a stone to Mercury is with them the same as to commit idolatry w; but either of the former senses is best;
so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool; it is all thrown away and lost, as a stone out of a sling; or as unseemly as to put a precious stone among a heap of stones, or a common stone in purple;
:-.
o Ebr. Comment. p. 777. p D. Herbert de Chefbury d. Relig Gent. c. 7. p. 58. q Suidas in voce εÏμαιον. r Phurnutus de Natura Deorum, p. 33. s Vid. D. Herbert de Cherbury, ut supra, p. 59. t Cornel. Nepot. Vit. Alcibiad. l. 7. c. 3. u Pausan. Corinth. sive, l. 2. p. 157. w Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. s. 6. & Maimon. in ib.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
i. e., âTo give honor to the fool is like binding a stone in a sling; you cannot throw it.â In each case you misapply and so waste. Others render in the sense of the margin: To use a precious stone where a pebble would be sufficient, is not less foolish than to give honor to a fool.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 26:8. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. — It is entirely thrown away. This, however, is a difficult proverb; and the versions give but little light on the subject. The Hebrew may be translated, "As a piece of precious stone among a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool." See the margin, and Parkhurst: but on this interpretation the meaning would rather be, "It is as useless to throw a jewel among a heap of stones to increase its bulk, as to give honour to a fool."
As he that sendith a stoon into a hepe of monee; so he that geveth to an unwiisman wirschip. - Old MS. Bible.
"He that setteth a foole in hye dignite, that is even as yf a man dyd caste a precious stone upon the galous." - Coverdale. This translator refers to the custom of throwing a stone to the heap under which a criminal lay buried. The Vulgate gives some countenance to this translation: "He who gives honour to a fool is like one who throws a stone to Mercury's heap." Mercury was considered the deity who presided over the highways; and stones were erected in different places 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."
