Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 26

Verse 2

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

By flying — Secures itself from the fowler.

Not come — Upon the innocent person, but he shall escape from it like a bird.

Verse 4

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

According — So as to imitate his folly, by passionate or reproachful speeches.

Verse 5

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

According — So as his folly needs and requires, convincing him strongly, reproving him sharply, and exposing him to just shame.

Verse 6

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

Cutteth off the feet — Of his messenger; bids one go that wants legs.

Drinketh — Drinking, in scripture, frequently denotes the plentiful doing or receiving of any thing.

Verse 7

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

The legs — Heb. the legs of the lame are lifted up, in going, or in dancing, which is done with great inequality and uncomeliness.

So — No less incident are wise and pious speeches from a foolish and ungodly man.

Verse 8

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

Bindeth — Whereby he hinders his own design of throwing the stone out of it.

So — No less absurd is he that giveth to a fool that honour which he is not capable of using aright.

Verse 9

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

A thorn — As a thorn is in a drunkard’s hand, which he cannot manage cautiously, but employs to his own and others hurt.

So — As unprofitable, and, by accident, hurtful to himself and others.

Verse 10

The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

Rewardeth — Will certainly give that recompence which is deserved by fools and transgressors, by such as sin either thro’ ignorance, or wilfully.

Verse 14

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

Turneth — Moving hither and thither upon it, but not removing from its place.

Verse 16

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

A reason — A satisfactory reason of ail their actions.

Verse 17

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

He — Who is going upon the way.

With strife — In which he is not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle.

That taketh — Exposes himself to needless hazard.

Verse 18

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

And death — Any instruments of death.

Verse 23

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Burning — With malice or hatred: A slanderous or evil tongue.

Dross — Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a shew of it, as dross does of silver.

Verse 26

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

Deceit — With false professions of love.

Verse 27

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

Rolleth — Up the hill with design to do mischief to some person.