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Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
PROVERBS • CHAPTER 26
Proverbs 26
Practical wisdom, speech, work, money, sexuality, family, justice, self-control, leadership, and fear of Yahweh.
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Proverbs 26
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1
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2
Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
like a darting swallow,
so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
3
A whip is for the horse,
a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools!
a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools!
4
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like him.
lest you also be like him.
5
Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8
As one who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10
As an archer who wounds all,
so is he who hires a fool
or he who hires those who pass by.
so is he who hires a fool
or he who hires those who pass by.
11
As a dog that returns to his vomit,
so is a fool who repeats his folly.
so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion roams the streets!”
A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14
As the door turns on its hinges,
so does the sluggard on his bed.
so does the sluggard on his bed.
15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.
He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer with discretion.
than seven men who answer with discretion.
17
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears
is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20
For lack of wood a fire goes out.
Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21
As coals are to hot embers,
and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
they go down into the innermost parts.
they go down into the innermost parts.
23
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel
are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
but he harbors evil in his heart.
but he harbors evil in his heart.
25
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26
His malice may be concealed by deception,
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28
A lying tongue hates those it hurts;
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
WISDOM
Where this chapter fits
Proverbs belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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