Proverbs 26:19

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, AS A MAD (MAN), WHO CASTETH FIREBRANDS, ARROWS, AND DEATH, SO (IS) THE MAN (THAT) DECEIVETH HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND SAITH, AM NOT I IN SPORT? Compare , "Sporting themselves with their own deceivings." A lie in jest does mischief in earnest. Such Sport the believer feels is "not convenient" (). It is the act of a "madman" playing with deadly implements, with the difference that the madman is not accountable; the jesting liar is (). Much that the world calls 'play' is deadly mischief ()....

Verse Proverbs 26:19. _AM NOT I IN SPORT?_] How many hearts have been made sad, and how many reputations have been slain, by this kind of _sport_! "I designed no harm by what I said;" "It was only in jest," c. _Sportive_ as such persons may think their conduct to be, it is as ruinous as that of the _madman_ who shoots _arrows_, throws _firebrands_, and projects in all directions _instruments of death_, so that some are wounded, some burnt, and some slain....

The teacher cuts off the plea which people make when they have hurt their neighbor by lies, that they “did not mean mischief,” that they were “only in fun.” Such jesting is like that of the madman flinging firebrands or arrows....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 26:1 Certain proverbs concerning the fool (_kesil_),_ _with the exception, perhaps, of Proverbs 26:2 (see on Proverbs 1:22). PROVERBS 26:1 AS SNOW IN SUMMER, AND AS RAIN IN HARVEST. Snow in summer would be quite unnatural and unheard of (see on Proverbs 25:13). Rain falls in the usual course of things only at stated times; whence arose the phrase of "the early and of latter rains" (see on...

SO [IS] THE MAN [THAT] DECEIVETH HIS NEIGHBOUR,.... By telling him a lie; or by reporting false things concerning him; or by cheating him in trade and commerce; or by taking his goods privately from him; and, when caught in either of these, AND SAITH, AM NOT I IN SPORT? do not be angry, I designed no hurt; it is all in jest, a mere joke: but, had he not been apprehended, it would have been in earnest, as he was. This is only an excuse, and as absurd an one as if a man should set fire to his neighbour's house and barns, or throw arrows at him, or strike him with any instrument of death, as the sword, c. and then say he was only in jest, or pretend madness....

CHAPTER 26 CONCERNING THE FOOL AND THE SLUGGARD Eleven times we meet the word fool in this chapter. Three different words are used in the Hebrew for fool. The first is “avil” which signifies weakness. The second word “kesil” occurs nearly fifty times, means fat or dense. The third word is the Hebrew “nabal,” which is derived from the verb to fade, or to wither; it means a vulgar, bad man who has given himself over to wickedness. The natural man in his condition, his darkened mind, his sinfulness answers to much that is said about the fool in this book. As snow in summer and rain at harvest time are quiteimpossible in Palestine, so is honor for a fool. A fool may utter a curse, as they often do, and wish something evil, but being causeless, it will not be fulfilled. The fool needs correction, the stripes for his back, he deserves no answer, and if he is answered it must be according to hi...

THE BOOK OF FOOLS. A section containing a series of synthetic couplets dealing with folly (except Proverbs 26:2). The text is unusually corrupt and defective. PROVERBS 26:1. For the opposite use of snow in harvest _cf._ Proverbs 25:13 *. Proverbs 26:2. Directed against the superstitious belief in the magical value of a curse. The simile refers to the aimless wandering of a bird, and is not to be compared with the flying roll of curses in Zechariah 5:1....

DECEIVETH. Hebrew. _ramah._ See note on Proverbs 11:18. Not the same word as in Proverbs 26:26....

_in sport_ Fatal mischief may come of thoughtlessness apart from malice....

TEXT Proverbs 26:9-19 9. As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10. As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by. 11. As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly. 12. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. 13. The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets. 14. As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed. 15. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason. 17. He that pa