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Friday, September 20th, 2024
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Proverbs 26:8

Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fool;   Sling;   Thompson Chain Reference - Slings;   The Topic Concordance - Honor;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fools;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Sling;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Parable;   Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boyhood ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Arms;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Sling;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Gem;   Heap;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Gems;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
Like one who binds a stone in a sling,So is he who gives glory to a fool.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that setteth a foole in hye dignitie, that is euen as if a man would bynde a stone in a sling.
Darby Translation
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
New King James Version
Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool.
Literal Translation
As he binding a stone on a sling, so is he giving honor to a fool.
Easy-to-Read Version
Showing honor to a fool is as bad as tying a rock in a sling.
World English Bible
As one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
King James Version (1611)
As hee that bindeth a stone in a sling; so is hee that giueth honour to a foole.
King James Version
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He yt setteth a foole in hye dignite, yt is eue as yf a man dyd cast a precious stone vpo ye galous.
THE MESSAGE
Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.
Amplified Bible
Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw], So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.
American Standard Version
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
Bible in Basic English
Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.
Update Bible Version
As one that binds a stone in a sling, So is he that gives honor to a fool.
Webster's Bible Translation
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honor to a fool.
New English Translation
Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
Contemporary English Version
Are you going to honor a fool? Why not shoot a slingshot with the rock tied tight?
Complete Jewish Bible
Like one who ties his stone to the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
Geneva Bible (1587)
As the closing vp of a precious stone in an heape of stones, so is he yt giueth glory to a foole.
George Lamsa Translation
Like a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Hebrew Names Version
As one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
As a small stone in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
New Life Bible
He who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
English Revised Version
As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Berean Standard Bible
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
New Revised Standard
It is like binding a stone in a sling to give honor to a fool.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
Douay-Rheims Bible
As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Lexham English Bible
Like binding a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
English Standard Version
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
New American Standard Bible
Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is one who gives honor to a fool.
New Century Version
Giving honor to a foolish person is like tying a stone in a slingshot.
Good News Translation
Praising someone who is stupid makes as much sense as tying a stone in a sling.
Christian Standard Bible®
Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
As he that casteth a stoon in to an heep of mercurie; so he that yyueth onour to an vnwijs man.
Revised Standard Version
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
Young's Literal Translation
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.

Contextual Overview

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.

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

Genesis 26:18
He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham's death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.
Genesis 26:19
Isaac's servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.
Judges 5:28
"From the window Sisera's mother looked out. Through the window she watched for his return, saying, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why don't we hear the sound of chariot wheels?'
Proverbs 7:6
While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain,
Ecclesiastes 9:9
Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.
Song of Solomon 2:9
My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room.
Isaiah 62:5
Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

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 ερμαιον. 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., “To give honor to the fool is like binding a stone in a sling; you cannot throw it.” 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."


 
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