Dealing with Fools
Study note
These proverbs give a detailed portrait of the fool. Honor does not fit a fool, like snow in summer. The famous pair in verses 4-5 seems contradictory: do not answer a fool according to their foolishness, but also answer a fool according to their foolishness. Together they mean you must use wisdom to know when to engage and when to walk away. A dog returning to its vomit is compared to a fool repeating their foolishness. The most dangerous person is someone who thinks they are already wise.
1 Giving honor to a fool makes no sense. It is like snow in summer or rain during harvest. As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 A curse spoken without any real cause behind it is like a sparrow flitting through the air or a swallow darting by. It will not land on you. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 Whips are made for horses, bridles are made for donkeys, and painful lessons are made for the backs of fools. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Do not respond to a fool using their own brand of logic, or you will lower yourself to their level. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 But sometimes you do need to answer a fool the way their foolishness deserves. If you don't, they will walk away thinking they are truly smart. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 Sending a fool to deliver your message is like cutting off your own legs or drinking poison on purpose. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 A wise saying in the mouth of a fool is as useful as paralyzed legs that cannot take a single step. The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Honoring a fool is as pointless as tying a rock into a slingshot so it cannot be launched. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 A proverb spoken by a fool is like a thorn branch being swung around by a drunk person. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 God, the one who created everything, gives both the fool and the wrongdoer exactly what they have earned. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 Just like a dog circles back to eat what it threw up, a fool goes right back to repeating their same old foolish behavior. As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12 See someone who thinks they already know everything? A fool has a better chance of learning than they do. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
The Lazy Person
Study note
The lazy person makes ridiculous excuses, like claiming there is a lion in the street. They turn on their bed like a door on its hinges: back and forth but never going anywhere. They are too lazy to even lift food from their plate to their mouth. Yet they think they are wiser than seven counselors.
13 The lazy person announces, "I cannot leave the house! There is a ferocious lion prowling around out there!" The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 A door swings back and forth on its hinges but never goes anywhere. A lazy person rolls back and forth in bed but never gets up. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The lazy person reaches into the food dish but cannot summon the energy to bring the food up to their mouth. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 A lazy person thinks they are smarter than seven people who all give wise answers. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
Gossip, Deception, and Hatred
Study note
Meddling in someone else's quarrel is like grabbing a dog by the ears. A person who deceives their neighbor and then says 'I was only joking' is dangerous. Without gossip, conflict dies out, just as a fire goes out without wood. Flattering lips and a wicked heart are like a cheap pot covered with silver paint -- attractive on the outside but worthless underneath.
17 Jumping into someone else's argument is as foolish as grabbing a stray dog by the ears. He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Think of a person who has lost their mind. They wildly shoot flaming arrows and throw deadly weapons around. As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 That is exactly what someone is like when they trick their neighbor and then say, "Relax, it was just a joke!" So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Take away the wood and the fire dies. Remove the gossip and the fighting stops. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 Charcoal keeps embers going. Wood keeps fire burning. A person who loves to argue keeps fights alive. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 Gossip is like irresistible snack food. You keep swallowing it and it settles into the deepest part of you. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Charming words coming from an evil heart are like a cheap clay pot with a shiny coat of silver glaze. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 A person full of hate covers it up with pleasant words while secretly storing up evil on the inside. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 They might sound exceedingly nice, but do not fall for it. Seven different kinds of evil are hiding inside them. When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 A person might hide their hatred behind a nice act. But sooner or later their wickedness will be shown to everyone. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 If you dig a pit to trap someone, you will fall in it yourself. If you set a boulder rolling at someone, it will come back and crush you. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A tongue that lies hates the people it wounds, and a mouth that flatters is setting people up for destruction. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.