Wisdom · Chapter 26 of 31

Proverbs 26

This chapter is a gallery of fools, sluggards, and troublemakers. Honor fits a fool as poorly as snow fits summer, and answering him wisely requires discernment. The sluggard invents lions in the streets to stay in bed, and a fool returns to his folly like a dog to its vomit. Gossips kindle strife like fuel on a fire, and flattering, deceitful speech hides a heart of hatred.

What happens in Proverbs 26

The proverbs first target the fool: honor is unseemly for him, a curse without cause does not land, and a rod is fit for his back. Two famous lines sit side by side, telling the reader both not to answer a fool according to his folly and to answer a fool according to his folly, teaching that wisdom weighs the situation. A parable in a fool's mouth is as useless as a lame man's legs. The chapter then turns to the sluggard, who claims a lion is in the street and turns on his bed like a door on hinges, too lazy even to feed himself, yet wise in his own eyes.

Next come the meddler who grabs a passing dog by the ears, the deceiver who calls his mischief mere sport, and the talebearer whose absence lets strife die like a fire without wood. It closes on the flatterer whose smooth lips cover seven abominations.

Proverbs 26 in context

Part of the Hezekiah collection of Solomon's proverbs, this chapter groups sayings by subject rather than scattering them: fools, then sluggards, then contentious and deceitful people. Its rich similes draw on farm life, weather, and household scenes to make folly memorable and repellent.

The paired opposite proverbs about answering a fool illustrate that wisdom is applied judgment, not mechanical rule-following.

Main themes of Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26 (KJV)

1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back. 4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. 6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. 7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. 14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. 18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? 20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. 27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. 28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Verses to carry from Proverbs 26

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”Proverbs 26:4

“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”Proverbs 26:5

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”Proverbs 26:11

Reflection

Ask where you may be circling back to a folly you already know harms you, like a dog to its vomit. Consider a recent conversation: did your words fuel strife or let it die. Pray for the discernment to know when to answer and when silence is the wiser reply.

A prayer from Proverbs 26