DAWN

     Explanation: Proverbs 26 contains comparisons and contrasts between the righteous and the wicked. Most of the proverbs deal with fools, sluggards, and troublemakers. Today's painting depicts a man with grievous wounds, the physical counterpart of the spiritual wounds caused by the talebearer mentioned in verse 22.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 25. Proverbs 26. Proverbs 27. Proverbs 28. Proverbs 29. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 26. Book of Proverbs. ]

     The subjects of chapter 26 are these: Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool (1). Like a sparrow flitting, or a swallow flying, so a curse that is causeless will not alight (2). A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, and a rod for the back of fools (3). Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him. In other words, do not answer a fool foolishly, because you will also be a fool. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. In other words, answer a fool wisely and you will correct his foolishness (4-5). Anyone who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence (6). Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools (7). Like one who binds a stone in a sling, so in one who gives honor to a fool (8). As a thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools (9). The great God who formed everything rewards both the fools and the transgressors (10). As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool returns to his folly (11). Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him (12). The sluggard makes ridiculous excuses such as this: "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the street!" (13). As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed (14). The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth (15). The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly (16). Whoever meddles in a quarrel that is not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears (17). Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and claims to be joking (18-19). For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases (20). As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife (21). The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body (22). Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart (23). The one who hates others disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart. When he speaks graciously do not believe him, because there are seven abominations in his heart. Even though he covers his hatred with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly (24-26). Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone, it will come back upon him (27). A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin (28).

¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

² As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

⁷ The legs of the lame are not equal: so is aparable in the mouth of fools.

⁸ As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

⁹ As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

¹¹ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³ The slothful man saith,There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

¹⁴ As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

¹⁵ The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth 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 passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

²² The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
²⁶ Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.