Proverbs 26

AS snow in summer, and as rain in harvest Unbecoming and unseasonable., so honour is not seemly for a fool Because he neither deserves it, nor knows how to use it, but his folly is both increased and publickly manifested by it..

As the bird by wandring From place to place, by its perpetual restlesness, it secures it self from the Fowler that he cannot shoot at it, nor spread his Net over it., as the swallow by flying, so the curse causless shall not come d. f To wit, upon the innocent Person, but he shall escape from it like a Bird, &c.

A whip for the horse, a bridle Which was very proper and usual for an Ass, when they rode upon it, (as the Iews most commonly did) though not to restrain him from running away, which is the principal use of it in Horses, yet that the Rider might rule and guide him, which was very necessary for that stupid Creature. Although the ancient Interpreters render it a Goad, or Spur, or somthing of the like Nature and use. for the ass, and a rod Which is most proper and necessary for him. Not words, but blows, must make him better. for the fools back.

Answer not a fool How can these contrary rules be reconciled, answer him not, and answer him? Ans. Easily, by considering the difference of Persons, and Times, and Places, and other circumstances, and of the manner of answering. And such seemingly contradictory Precepts are not only used by, but are esteemed Elegant in, other Authors, Answer him not, when he is incorrigible, or when he is enflamed with Passion or Wine, &c. or when it is not necessary, nor likely to do him good. Answer him, when he is capable of receiving good by it, or when it is necessary for the glory of God, or for the discharge of a Man's duty, or for the good of others. according to his folly So as to imitate his folly, by such passionate, or reproachful, or foolish speeches as he useth to thee., lest thou also be like unto him Show thy self to be as great a fool as he..

Answer a fool according to his folly So as his folly needs and requires, convincing him strongly, reproving him sharply, exposing him to just shame, and correcting him with a Rod, when he deserves it, and thou hast a just power to use it., lest he be wise in his own conceit Lest thy silence make him arrogant and presumptuous, as if his words were unanswerable..

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool He that employeth a Fool upon any important Errant or Business which is too hard for him., cutteth off the feet To wit, of his Messenger, he bids one go that wants Legs, he sends one who wants that discretion, which is as necessary for that employment as Legs are for going., and drinketh damage He bringeth upon himself abundance of loss and mischief, not only spoiling that business about which he sends him, but making himself contemptible to the Person to whom he sends him, and to others with him, as if he had not common prudence to choose a fit Messenger, and giving occasion by the folly of his Messenger to further misunderstandings, and jealousies, and inconveniences. For the Phrase, we may observe that drinking in Scripture frequently notes the plentiful doing or receiving of any thing, as they who multiply sins are said to drink Iniquity like Water, Iob 15. 16. & 34. 7. and they who are greatly afflicted are commonly said to drink the Cup..

The legs of the lame are not equal Heb. As (which note of similitude is plainly understood from the particle, so, in the following clause) the legs of the lame are lifted up, to wit, in going, or rather in dancing, which is done with great inequality and uncomeliness., so is a parable in the mouth of fools No less absurd and indecent are wise and pious speeches from a foolish and ungodly man, whose actions grosly contradict them, whereby he makes them contemptible, and himself ridiculous..

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling Whereby he hinders his own design of throwing the stone out of it. Or, who fastens it there only for a season, that he may speedily and violently throw it away. Or, as it is rendred in our margent, and by many others, As he that putteth a precious stone (Heb. a stone, which is oft emphatically used for a precious stone, both in Scripture, as Exod. 39. 10. 1 Chron. 29. 8. and elsewhere, and also in other Authors) in an heap of stones, where it is obscured and lost., so is he that giveth honour to a fool No less absurd is he that giveth to a Fool that Honour and Praise which he is not capable either of receiving, or retaining, or using aright, but it is quite wasted upon him, and does him more hurt than good..

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard As a thorn is in a Drunkards hand, which he cannot hold and manage cautiously, but employeth to his own and others hurt., so As improper and unprofitable, and, by accident, hurtful to himself and others. See on v. 7. is a parable in the mouth of fools.

The great God that formed all things, both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors God, who is oft called great, as Psal. 86. 10. & 135. 5. &c. and is described by the name of the most high, as Ps. 9. 2. & 21. 7. &c. who created all things, and therefore observeth and governeth all men and things, will certainly give that recompence which is meet for, and deserved by Fools and Transgressors, i. e. by such as sin either through ignorance and heedlesness, or wilfully and wickedly. Or, as it is in the margent, A great man (A Prince or Potentate, who are called by this title, Esth. 1. 8. Dan. 1. 3. &c.) grieveth (as this word is used, Isa. 51. 9. & 53. 5. and elsewhere) all (to wit, all that are subject to him, or all that stand in his way) he hireth (as this word most commonly signifies) the fools, he hireth also transgressors. So the sense is It is the manner of many Princes to vex and oppress their Subjects, which because they cannot do by themselves alone, they hire others, both fools, who do not know or consider what they do, and transgressors, who are ready to execute all their commands, right or wrong, that they may be their instruments in that work..

As a dog returneth to his vomit To lick up that which he had lately vomited, forgetting how burdensom and vexatious it was to him., so a fool returneth to his folly Such like is the impudence and madness of sinners, who having smarted for their sins, and been forced to forsake them for a time, do afterwards return to the commission of them..

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit Who, being a fool, thinks himself wise, and therefore scorneth the counsels of others.? there is more hope of a fool Of doing good to one who is a fool, and sensible of his folly, and ready to receive instruction. than of him.

The slothful man says To excuse his idleness and keeping himself at home. See on Ch. 22. 13., there is a lion in the way, a lion is in the streets.

As the door turneth upon his hinges Moving hither and thither upon it, but not removing one jot from its place., so does the slothful upon his bed.

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom, it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth He will not take the least pains for the most necessary things..

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Because by his idleness he avoids those troubles and dangers to which other men by their activity expose themselves, forgetting in the mean time what reproach and loss, and how much greater mischiefs, both here, and hereafter, are brought upon him by his slothfulness., than seven men that can render a reason To wit, a satisfactory reason of all their actions, i. e. who are truly wise men..

He that passeth by Who is going upon the way, and about his business: But this word is by some referred to the last clause, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears as he is passing by him, without any thought of doing him harm; which agrees very well both with the order of the words in the Hebrew Text, and with the matter of the other clause to which this similitude is referred., and meddleth with strife belonging not to him In which he is not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle., is like one that taketh a dog by the ears Exposeth himself to great and needless hazards, as a man that causelesly provoketh a Mastiff dog against himself..

As a mad man As one feigneth himself mad, that under that pretence he may do mischief with impunity. who casteth fire-brands To hurt his Neighbours person, or to consume his House or Goods., arrows, and death Any instruments of death.:

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport That wrongs him under a false pretence of kindness and familiarity.?

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no tale-bearer To carry such reports from one to another, as may provoke them to mutual rage and strife., the strife ceaseth.

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man Heb. a man of contentions, that loveth and giveth himself up to contentions. to kindle strife.

The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly This was delivered before, Ch. 18. 8. and is here repeated as being a point of great concernment to the Peace and Welfare of all societies, and fit to be oft and earnestly pressed upon the consciences of men, because of their great and general proneness to this sin..

Burning Either 1. With Love. Words delivered with show of true and fervent affection. Or rather 2. With Malice or hatred. A slanderous or evil Tongue: For this word is constantly used in a bad sense, and notes the heat of Rage and Persecution. lips, and a wicked heart, are like a potsherd covered with silver dross Such a Tongue and Heart are of no real worth, although somtimes they make a show of it, as Dross does of Silver..

He that hateth dissembleth Or, carrieth himself like another man, pretends Love and Kindness; which sense seems to agree best both with the next clause of this verse, and with the two following verses. with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him.

When he speaketh fair, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Whose hatred is covered by deceit With false professions of Love., his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation Instead of that secrecy and impunity which by this art he designed and promised to himself, he shall be brought to publick shame and punishment..

Whoso diggeth a pjt That another may fall into it. It is a metaphor from Hunters who used to dig deep pits, and then to cover them sleightly with earth, that wild Beasts passing that way, might fall into them, and somtimes in the heat of pursuit fell into them themselves. shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone To wit, up the hill with design to do mischief to some person or thing with it. it will return upon him.

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it Because by his calumnies he has made them his enemies., and a flattering mouth Which though it be more smooth and plausible than a slandering mouth yet is in truth no less pernicious, betraying others either to sin, or to danger and mischief. worketh ruine.