Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26 is the 26th chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Template:Sfn The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.Template:Sfn This chapter is the last part of the fifth collection of the book, so-called "the Second Solomonic Collection."Template:Sfn

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 26 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	Template:Script/Hebrew	As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour is not seemly for a fool.
2	Template:Script/Hebrew	As the wandering sparrow, as the flying swallow, So the curse that is causeless shall come home.
3	Template:Script/Hebrew	A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4	Template:Script/Hebrew	Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
5	Template:Script/Hebrew	Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage
7	Template:Script/Hebrew	The legs hang limp from the lame; So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8	Template:Script/Hebrew	As a small stone in a heap of stones, So is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9	Template:Script/Hebrew	As a thorn that cometh into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10	Template:Script/Hebrew	A master performeth all things; But he that stoppeth a fool is as one that stoppeth a flood.
11	Template:Script/Hebrew	As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
12	Template:Script/Hebrew	Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13	Template:Script/Hebrew	The sluggard saith: ‘There is a lion in the way; Yea, a lion is in the streets.’
14	Template:Script/Hebrew	The door is turning upon its hinges, And the sluggard is still upon his bed.
15	Template:Script/Hebrew	The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it back to his mouth.
16	Template:Script/Hebrew	The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men that give wise answer.
17	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife not his own, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18	Template:Script/Hebrew	As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death;
19	Template:Script/Hebrew	So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, And saith: ‘Am not I in sport?’
20	Template:Script/Hebrew	Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21	Template:Script/Hebrew	As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22	Template:Script/Hebrew	The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23	Template:Script/Hebrew	Burning lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, But he layeth up deceit within him.
25	Template:Script/Hebrew	When he speaketh fair, Believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26	Template:Script/Hebrew	Though his hatred be concealed with deceit, His wickedness shall be revealed before the congregation.
27	Template:Script/Hebrew	Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28	Template:Script/Hebrew	A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).Template:Sfn

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $𝔊$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $𝔊$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $𝔊$^A; 5th century).Template:Sfn

Analysis

This chapter belongs to a further collection of Solomonic proverbs, transmitted and edited by royal scribes during the reign of Hezekiah, comprising Proverbs 25–29.Template:Sfn Based on differences in style and subject-matter there could be two originally separate collections:Template:Sfn

1. Proverbs 25–27: characterized by many similes and the 'earthy' tone
2. Proverbs 28–29: characterized by many antithetical sayings and the predominantly 'moral and religious' tone (cf. Proverbs 10–15)

The first twelve verses of this chapter, except verse 2, "Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight", form a series of sayings on the 'fool',Template:Sfn so sometimes are called “the Book of Fools”.

Verse 1

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

• "Honor": may likely refer to "respect, external recognition of worth, accolades, advancement to high position", etc., all of which would be 'out of place with a fool'.

Verse 17

He who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him

is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

• "Meddles" from the Hebrew word Template:Lang, mitʿabber, meaning "to put oneself in a fury" or "become furious"; the Latin version apparently assumed the verb was Template:Lang, ʿarav, which has th sense of “meddle”.

See also

• Related Bible parts: Exodus 22, Leviticus 25, Proverbs 10, Proverbs 15, Proverbs 25

Sources

• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 26 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 26 King James Version
• Template:Librivox book Various versions