This chapter contains many similes and some metaphors. These similes and metaphors describe fools and sluggards in several of the verses. Also, towards the end of the chapter, several verses cover topics related to quarreling, gossiping, evil and deceitful speech, and lying. I think that you will find them interesting! So let’s look at Proverbs 26 now and learn together!
Like A Fool…Verses 1-12
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest- honor is not fitting for a fool
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,-an undeserved curse does not stop
Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison-sending a message with a fool
Like the useless legs of one who is lame-when a fool uses a proverb. It doesn‘t fit!!!!
Like tying a stone in a sling-giving honor to a fool
Like a thorn bush in a drunkard’s hand-when a fool uses a proverb
Like an archer who wounds at random-one who hires a fool or one who passes by
As a dog returns to its vomit- a fool returns over and over to their foolishness
Verses 3-5: A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Verse 12: Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
Like A Sluggard…Verses 13-16
Verse 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed- moves slowly, it isn’t going very far. The hinges only take a door back and forth.
Verse 13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”- the sluggard tells everyone else to do something about the lion. They don’t take care of a situation on their own.
Verse 15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.- they are so lazy, they won’t even bring food to their mouth.
Verse 16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.- they really think they are wise!
Like One Who Quarrels, Gossips, Lies And Speaks Deceitfully
Verses 18-19: Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears – is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. They aren’t minding their own business!
Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death- is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
Verse 20: Without wood a fire goes out;- without a gossip, a quarrel dies down. Fighting stops without one who gossips.
Verse 21: As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,- so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. Charcoal and wood really get a fire going strong. So does an argumentative person. They get fights going! They keep them going!
Verse 22: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;- they go down to the inmost parts. They go deep and they hurt!
Verse 23: Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware- are fervent lips with an evil heart. Silver dross is scum!
Verse 24: Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, – but in their hearts they harbor deceit. They look good on the outside, but very evil on the inside.
Verses 25-28: Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. A lot of deception lies in the tongue, mouth, and lips! Lying, gossiping and quarreling all hurt people! So be careful what you say!
Wow amazing to read these for a reminder.