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Proverbs 26

1
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
3
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4
Don’t 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
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11
As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
25
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter contrasts the character and consequences of folly, laziness, deceit, and strife with the wisdom that comes from self-awareness, diligence, and integrity. Through vivid metaphors, it exposes how folly undermines speech, relationships, and moral responsibility, while also warning against the dangers of meddling, false flattery, and unresolved conflict. It sits within Proverbs’ broader exploration of wisdom as right ordering—of words, actions, and the heart—particularly in social and moral contexts.

Flow.

  • The chapter opens with a series of comparisons showing the incongruity of honoring fools, much like misaligned natural phenomena, then turns to the proper way to engage folly: neither endorsing it nor being drawn into it.
  • It shifts focus to the sluggard, using exaggerated images to depict the irrational excuses and extreme laziness that mask spiritual and moral inertia.
  • The passage then addresses the danger of meddling in others’ conflicts and the deceit of malicious speech disguised as humor or charm.
  • Finally, it emphasizes the self-destructive nature of treachery, falsehood, and flattery, affirming that moral cause and effect inevitably expose wickedness.

Connections.
Following chapter 25, which grounds wisdom in divine order (WCF 4.2) and the responsibility of rulers and individuals alike, chapter 26 extends that responsibility into everyday conduct, particularly in speech and social interaction. Where chapter 25 emphasizes justice and patience, chapter 26 warns against the inner dispositions—folly, sloth, malice—that corrupt personal and communal life. This prepares the way for chapter 27, which takes up the themes of humility, self-examination, and stewardship, showing how wisdom bears fruit in consistent, watchful living rather than self-deception or reliance on fleeting gains (HC LD 10).

What it teaches.
The chapter teaches that moral and spiritual disorder manifests in speech, work, and relationships, and that God ordains consequences for both folly and wickedness (WCF 3.7, 5.5). Fools are not merely ignorant but morally disoriented, incapable of rightly handling wisdom or receiving correction. The sluggard’s laziness is not rest but moral paralysis. Flattery, deceit, and strife reveal hearts at odds with truth and peace, and such behavior cannot remain hidden forever (WCF 16.5, Canons of Dort 3–4.8). The consistent use of similes underscores the reliability of moral cause and effect, affirming that wisdom is not abstract but visible in conduct that aligns with God’s just governance.

Apply.
When confronted with arrogance or deceit, respond in a way that upholds truth without becoming entangled in foolishness.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.