Proverbschapter 26
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Original Language
Proverbs 26— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, which is the key every lexicon and concordance uses (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets name a word that does a grammatical job rather than carrying a meaning, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
Answer a Fool According to His Folly — and Answer Him Not1
1Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
Rashi on Proverbs 26:1
Like snow in the summer when they spread the figs in the sun to dry them and to make fig cakes, as is stated (II Sam.:2): “the bread and the dried figs for the young men to eat.”
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
Rashi on Proverbs 26:10
The Master created all The Holy One, blessed be He, created all and sustains all, the fool like the wise man. We do not need any wisdom.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
The Sluggard: There Is a Lion in the Way13
13The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
Rashi on Proverbs 26:15
in the cauldron He buries his hand in a hot cauldron because of the cold.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Where No Wood Is, the Fire Goeth Out17
17Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Rashi on Proverbs 26:17
one who grabs a dog by its ears One who passes by and becomes embroiled in a quarrel that is not his is like one who grabs a dog by his ears, who causes him to bite him for no reason.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.