What does Proverbs Chapter 26 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker. Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified. The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 26 compares honor for a fool with summer snow and harvest rain. Verse 2 says a causeless curse shall come upon a man, with traveling bird and flying sparrow images. Its separate edition note explains no harm to the cursed but return to the curser like a bird to its nest; the note must not replace the verse. Whip, snaffle and rod accompany horse, ass and fool. Do not answer according to folly lest becoming alike; the edition note distinguishes imitation from reproof. Answer according to folly lest the fool consider himself wise. A fool messenger resembles lame feet and drinking iniquity. Foolish parables resemble a lame man’s fair legs; foolish honor a stone upon Mercury’s heap; a parable in foolish mouths a thorn growing in a drunkard’s hand. Judgment silences the fool and appeases anger; repeated folly resembles a dog returning to vomit. There is more hope for a fool than for a self-wise man.

The slothful speaks of a lion in the way and lioness in the roads, turns in bed like a hinged door, hides a hand in the armpit and grieves to bring it to his mouth; he considers himself wiser than seven men speaking sentences. Meddling in another’s quarrel resembles taking a dog’s ears. One deceitfully hurting a friend and, when caught, claiming a jest resembles arrows and lances cast toward death. With wood gone fire goes out; removal of a talebearer shall stop contentions. Coal and wood compare an angry man’s strife, apparently simple talebearing words reach inward bowels. Swelling lips with a corrupt heart resemble clay adorned with silver dross. An enemy is known by lips while deceit is entertained within; distrust a low voice with seven heart mischiefs. Concealed hatred shall become public. Pit digger shall fall, rolled stone return; deceitful tongue does not love truth and slippery mouth brings ruin. These images do not establish a clinical psychology or a completed victory over enemies.

The story inside

Opening: The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker. Development: Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified. Conclusion: The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker.
2
Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified.
3
The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 69511–69514
As a bird, etc.... The meaning is, that a curse uttered without cause shall do no harm to the person that is cursed, but will return upon him that curseth, as whithersoever a bird flies, it returns to its own nest.
Lines 69519–69526
26:4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him. Answer not a fool, etc.... Viz., so as to imitate him but only so as to reprove his folly. 26:5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Lines 69572–69576
26:21. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife. 26:22. The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.