Proverbs Twenty Six
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
Proverbs 26:1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
the curse causeless. A curse uttered without justification will not be fulfilled, like birds flitting about without landing.
Proverbs 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer not a fool. Proverbs 26:4, 5, appears superficially to be in direct contradiction, but obviously the writer did not think of these as conflicting instructions, for he placed them back-to-back.
Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Answer a fool. When a person is given to foolish skeptical arguments related to God and His Word, it is a waste of time to argue with him. If, however, he is influencing others and becoming self-important in his delusion, it may be necessary to show up his folly by solid evidence.
Proverbs 26:7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
to his vomit. See 2 Peter 2:22, where the same colorful metaphor is applied to false teachers returning to the pagan teaching from which they had made a profession of being saved.
Proverbs 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
his own conceit. In Proverbs 26:3-11, each verse contains a picturesque epithet against fools and their follies, yet the conclusion reached is that an arrogant man “wise in his own conceit” is even worse!
Proverbs 26:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
Proverbs 26:14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Proverbs 26:18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Proverbs 26:19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
Proverbs 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
potsherd. A “potsherd” is a fragment of pottery.
Proverbs 26:24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;