_As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool._ Ver. 1. _So honour is not seemly for a fool._] Honour is the reward of virtue; dignity should wait upon desert. _Sed dignitas in indigno est ornamentum in luto,_ as Salvian. Honour is as fit for a fool as a gold ring f... [ Continue Reading ]
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. Ver. 2. _As the bird by wandering, and the swallow,_] _i.e., _ As these may fly where they will, and nobody cares, or is the worse; so here. And as birds tired with much wandering, and not finding where to re... [ Continue Reading ]
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Ver. 3. _A whip for the horse,_] viz., To quicken his slow pace. "A bridle for the ass," wherewith to lead him in the right way; for he goes willingly but a foot pace, and would be oft out, but for the bit; and besides, he i... [ Continue Reading ]
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Ver. 4. _Answer not a fool according to his folly._] When either he curseth thee, _as _ Pro 26:2 or cryeth out upon thee for giving him due correction Pro 26:3 - for every public person had need to carry a spare handkerchief... [ Continue Reading ]
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Ver. 5. _Answer a fool according to his folly._] Cast in somewhat that may sting him, and stop his mouth. Stone him with soft words but hard arguments, as Christ dealt with Pilate, lest he lift up his crest, and look upon him... [ Continue Reading ]
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage. Ver. 6. _He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool._] The worth of a faithful messenger he had set forth; Pro 15:13 here, the discommodity of a foolish one - such as were the spies Moses sent. Numbers... [ Continue Reading ]
The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools. Ver. 7. _The legs of the lame are not equal._] _Locum habet proverbium cum is qui male vivit, bene loquitur,_ saith an interpreter. _a_ This proverb hits such as speak well, but live otherwise. Uniformity and ubiquity of o... [ Continue Reading ]
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool. Ver. 8. _As he that bindeth a stone in a sling._] A precious stone is not fit for a sling - where it will soon be cast away and lost; no more is honour for a fool. See Proverbs 26:1. Ebenezra saith that _Margemah,_ here... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 26:9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools. Ver. 9. _As a thorn goeth up into the hand, &c._] He handleth it hard, as if it were another kind of wood, and it runs into his hand. So do profane persons pervert and pollute the Holy Scriptur... [ Continue Reading ]
The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. Ver. 10. _The great God that formed all things._] As he made all so he maintains all, even the evil and the unthankful. God deals not as that cruel Duke of Alva did in the Netherlands; - some he roasted t... [ Continue Reading ]
As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly. Ver. 11. _As a dog returneth to his vomit._] A homely comparison, able to make a true Christian ready to lay up all, but good enough for the odious apostate to whom it is applied. Such a one was Judas, Julian, Ecebolius, Baldvinus... [ Continue Reading ]
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him. Ver. 12. _Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?_] This foolish wise man, or wise foolish man (for whether of the two to call him I know not, as the chronicler saith of Sir Thomas Moore), is that "dog" spoken o... [ Continue Reading ]
The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets. Ver. 13. _The slothful man sayeth, There is a lion._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 22:13 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 26:14 [As] the door turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed. Ver. 14. _As the door turneth upon his hinges._] But comes not off, unless lifted or knocked off. So neither comes the sluggard out of his feathered nest, where he lies soaking and stretching, unless hard hun... [ Continue Reading ]
The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. Ver. 15. _The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 19:24 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. Ver. 16. _Than seven men that can render a reason._] Yea, though they were the seven wise men of Greece, they were all fools to him. The proud Pharisees rejected the counsel of God, and would not be baptized of John... [ Continue Reading ]
He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears. Ver. 17. _He that passeth by and meddleth, &c._] Two kind of studies have I always hated, saith one: _Studium partium, et studium novarum forum._ Study of parts, and study of new mark... [ Continue Reading ]
So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? Ver. 19. _Am not I in jest?_] The wicked man's mirth is usually mixed with mischief. It is no sport, unless he may have the devil his play fellow - no good fellowship without horse play. Salt jests, and dry flouts, to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Ver. 20. _Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out._] _Lignis ignis conservatur._ So is strife by evil tongues; these are the devil's bellows and boutefeaus. "Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bri... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 26:21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife. Ver. 21. _So is a contentious man._] Heb., A man of contentions, _Vir biliosus et bellicosus; _ a man made up of discords, as Democritus said the world was - that loves to live in the fir... [ Continue Reading ]
The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Ver. 22. _The words of a talebearer, &c._] See Proverbs 18:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross. Ver. 23. _Burning lips and a wicked heart, &c._] The tongue of the righteous is as fined silver; but glossing lips upon a false heart is no better than dross upon dirt: counterfeit friends are naught on both sides, hav... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; Ver. 24. _He that hateth dissembleth with his lips._] And so heaps sin upon sin, till he be transformed into a breathing devil. This is meant not so much of the passion of hatred as of the habit of it; when it hath wholly le... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart._ Ver. 25. _When he speaketh fair, believe him not._] Nηφε και μεμνησο απιστειν. Take heed whom you trust; "beware of men"; Mat 10:17 bless yourselves from your pretended friends, and pray with David to be "del... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 26:26 [Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the [whole] congregation. Ver. 26. _Whose hatred is covered by deceit, &c._] He shall be detected and detested of all, sooner or later. God will wash off his varnish with rivers of brimstone. Love, as it is th... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. Ver. 27. _Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall thereinto._] This is the same with Psalms 7:15, from which it seems to be taken; _See Trapp on "_ Psa 7:15 _"_ Heathen writers have many proverbs to like purpose. S... [ Continue Reading ]
A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. Ver. 28. _A lying tongue hateth those that are addicted by it._] False love proves to be true hatred, by the evil consequent of its ruin and destruction to the party flattered, and betrayed by a smooth supp... [ Continue Reading ]