BOOK 20 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Proverbs 26

Proverbs book home•Chapter 26 of 31•28 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Proverbs 26 Overview

The chapter piles up comparisons showing that honor does not fit a fool, cautions both about answering and not answering fools according to context, mocks the sluggard's excuses, and exposes meddling and disguised hatred.

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26Chapter

28Verses

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Before you read Proverbs 26

Coming from

Proverbs 25 emphasized solomon's proverbs preserved under hezekiah: restraint, fitting speech, and wise dealings. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

Leads into

Proverbs 27 turns to friendship, honest correction, diligence, and stewardship, expanding wisdom into another set of choices, contrasts, and observations.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Proverbs 26:4-5 is intentionally paired: wisdom discerns when answering a fool would imitate him and when silence would leave his self-conceit unchallenged. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Fools, sluggards, meddlers, and destructive gossip.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 26, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Speech truth

In Proverbs 26, words reveal character and have real power to heal, inflame, deceive, reconcile, or destroy.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

2 Peter 2:22

Peter quotes the proverb about a dog returning to its vomit when describing teachers who return to corruption.

Wisdom connection

James 3:13-18 distinguishes heavenly wisdom from envy-driven earthly wisdom. This connection helps frame Proverbs 26.

Speech connection

James 3 develops at length the disproportionate power and danger of the tongue. This connection helps frame Proverbs 26.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 26 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep speech in context

Speech principles in Proverbs 26 are strong wisdom guidance, but they do not mean words possess magical creative power.

Read Proverbs 26 watching for…

honour fool.

answer not/answer fool.

dog returns vomit.

sluggard lion.

whisperer strife.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-9Honor does not fit a fool; correction and answering folly require wisdom 10-16Folly repeats itself, and the sluggard invents excuses while thinking himself wise 17-22Meddling, deceptive joking, talebearing, and strife spread like fire 23-28Burning lips can hide a wicked heart; hatred and deceit eventually bring ruin

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

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

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

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

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

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

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

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

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

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

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

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

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

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Proverbs 26:21

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