Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

1 As snow in summer and rain in harvest,

So honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,

So a curse without cause shall not alight.

3 A whip for the horse,

A bridle for the donkey,

And a rod for the fool’s back.

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest you also be like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool

Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling

Is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 The great God who formed everything

Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

11 As a dog returns to his own vomit,

So a fool repeats his folly.

12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!

A fierce lion is in the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

So does the lazy man on his bed.

15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;

It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own

Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,

And says, “I was only joking!”

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;

And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,

And they go down into the inmost body.

23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart

Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,

And lays up deceit within himself;

25 When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,

For there are seven abominations in his heart;

26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit,

His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.

1. So let’s start with (v. 1) we read “As snow in summer and rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.”
   1. In Palestine, snow in the summer would be unnatural and rain at harvest time would also be unwanted. So is honor in a fool, it would be unnatural and unwanted, for a fool to have honor could cause him to have influence where he should not and that could have unwanted dangers (1 Sam. 12:17).
2. In (v. 12) we read “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
   1. The man that professes to be wise will refuse to learn (Rom. 1:22; 12:16; Rev. 3:17, 18) but the man that understands that he is simple is willing to be taught.
3. Let’s finish with (vv. 24-26) we read “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; Though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly”
   1. A man that hates often will not display his hatred to the person this hate is directed and he will speak kind words even when they are not truly felt.
   2. On the Day of Judgment he will see his true self reviled to the world and he will be treated as a murder and a hater of God (1 John 3:15).

“Destroy gossip by ignoring”

When a fire finishes burning through the material it feeds on, it goes out. Similarly, when gossip reaches the ear of someone who will not repeat it, it dies.

Gossip, like other sins, is like “tasty trifles” (Proverbs 26:22). We like to hear it and share it with others because it “tastes” good. Gossip is rooted in our need to feel good about ourselves. As we bring others down, we gain the illusion that we are moving upward.

That’s why spreading gossip is so difficult to resist. It takes prayer and God’s grace to bring us to the point where we refuse to pass it on or even hear it—even under the guise of personal concern or a request to pray for a sinning friend in trouble.

We must ask God for the wisdom to know when to speak, what to speak, and when to simply keep our mouths shut. For “in the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).

It is often wise to be quiet and speak few words. But if we must speak, let’s talk of those things that encourage and move others closer to God, not those things that will discourage and hurt them. “The tongue of the wise promotes health” (Proverbs 12:18). —David H. Roper (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

The tongue can spread suspicion,

And reputations steal;

But when the Lord controls our tongue,

Its words will soothe and heal. —Sper

1. What do you think (vv. 18, 19) is saying?
2. What other things do you see in the text?

Prayer Activities

1. Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
2. Continue to have a prayer list and continue to praying for them.
3. Pray with them and ask for the following;
   1. For God to give us his understanding and forgiveness.
   2. For God to help us cleanse our hearts and be more like Him.
   3. For the individuals on your pray list.
4. Let’s use (Matt. 6:6) for today’s prayer verse.