(Prov 26:1 NASB) Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
Prov 26:1: The first part of the chapter discusses fools. To begin with, honor is not fitting for a fool.
(Prov 26:2 NASB) Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight.
Prov 26:2: A curse without cause, or a curse on someone that Elohim has not cursed, will not be effective. Apparently Solomon had Balaam in mind (Num. 23:8).
(Prov 26:3 NASB) A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
Prov 26:3: It would seem that, by our thinking, Solomon has the donkey and the horse confused. But in the East, donkeys are more active and well broken, while horses are more scarce, often caught wild and are badly broken and much less manageable.
The point is that punishment is necessary to control the fool.
(Prov 26:4 NASB) Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.
(Prov 26:5 NASB) Answer a fool as his folly deserves, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Prov 26:5: These two verses are not contradictory. The point of these two verses is that there is a time to refute a fool or else his foolish claims will be seemingly confirmed. There are also times to ignore foolishness.
(Prov 26:6 NASB) He cuts off his own feet, and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
Prov 26:6: A sender who sends a message through a fool disables his own purpose.
(Prov 26:7 NASB) Like the legs which hang down from the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Prov 26:7: This is self explanatory. A proverb in the mouth of a fool is useless.
(Prov 26:8 NASB) Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
Prov 26:8: To bind a stone in a sling prevents it from flying out of the sling and is senseless. Giving honor to a fool is also senseless.
(Prov 26:9 NASB) Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Prov 26:9: A proverb in the mouth of a fool will only do harm, which is what he intends.
(Prov 26:10 NASB) Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
Prov 26:10: If one hires a fool or a passerby, he is condemning his task.
(Prov 26:11 NASB) Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.
Prov 26:11: Peter quoted this passage in reference to lawless people (2 Pater 2:20-22). Peter says that if fools escape the defilments of the world by knowledge of Yeshua Messiah, and still do not follow Torah, they are worse than never knowing Torah at all.
(Prov 26:12 NASB) Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Prov 26:12: A man that is wise in his own eyes is hopeless
(Prov 26:13 NASB) The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!”
Prov 26:13: The subject now changes from the fool to the sluggard. The sluggard will say anything to avoid his work.
(Prov 26:14 NASB) As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.
(Prov 26:15 NASB) The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
Prov 26:15: The sluggard is too lazy to get out of bed and is too lazy to feed himself.
(Prov 26:16 NASB) The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
Prov 26:16: The sluggard justifies his laziness in his own mind.
(Prov 26:17 NASB) Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
Prov 26:17: The one who takes a dog by the ears is just irritating the dog. In the same way, those who pass by and meddle with strife that is not theirs is just irritating everyone involved.
(Prov 26:18 NASB) Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death,
(Prov 26:19 NASB) So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “Was I not joking?”
Prov 26:19: A person who makes a joke of his thoughtlessness is dangerous to be around.
(Prov 26:20 NASB) For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
Prov 26:20: A fire will go out without fuel. Contention will eventually cease without a whisperer.
(Prov 26:21 NASB) Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Prov 26:21: A contentious man will kindle strife like fire does to wood.
(Prov 26:22 NASB) The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
Prov 26:22: Whispers of gossip are absorbed by those that listen.
(Prov 26:23 NASB) Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Prov 26:23: A beautiful face can often hide an ugly wicked heart.
(Prov 26:24 NASB) He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart.
(Prov 26:25 NASB) When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
Prov 26:25: Those who hate often hide their hate and wait for an opportune time to express it. Scripture says there are seven abominations in their heart (Prov. 6:16-19, Matt. 15:19).
(Prov 26:26 NASB) Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
Prov 26:26: Hatred in secret will one day be exposed in the assembly.
(Prov 26:27 NASB) He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
Prov 26:27: Evil will ultimately be punished (Psalm 7:11-17).
(Prov 26:28 NASB) A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Prov 26:28: Lying and flattering are completely destructive.
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas