In Palestine there is commonly hardly any rain from the early showers of spring to October. Hence, “rain in harvest” became sometimes (see the marginal reference) a supernatural sign, sometimes, as here, a proverb for whatever was strange and incongruous.... [ Continue Reading ]
i. e., “Vague as the flight of the sparrow, aimless as the wheelings of the swallow, is the causeless curse. It will never reach its goal.” The marginal reading in the Hebrew, however, gives” to him” instead of “not” or “never;” i. e., “The causeless curse, though it may pass out of our ken, like a... [ Continue Reading ]
Two sides of a truth. To “answer a fool according to his folly” is in Proverbs 26:4 to bandy words with him, to descend to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse; in Proverbs 26:5 it is to say the right word at the right time, to expose his unwisdom and untruth to others and to himself, not by a t... [ Continue Reading ]
CUTTETH OFF THE FEET - Mutilates him, spoils the work which the messenger ought to fulfill. DRINKETH DAMAGE - i. e., “has to drink full draughts of shame and loss” (compare Job 15:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, Take away the legs of the lame man, and the parable that is in the mouth of fools: both are alike useless to their possessors. Other meanings are: (1) “The legs of the lame man are feeble, so is parable in the mouth of fools.” (2) “the lifting up of the legs of a lame man, i. e., his attempts... [ Continue Reading ]
i. e., “To give honor to the fool is like binding a stone in a sling; you cannot throw it.” In each case you misapply and so waste. Others render in the sense of the margin: To use a precious stone where a pebble would be sufficient, is not less foolish than to give honor to a fool.... [ Continue Reading ]
Better: “As a thorn which is lifted up in the hand of the drunkard” etc. As such a weapon so used may do mischief to the man himself or to others, so may the sharp, keen-edged proverb when used by one who does not understand it.... [ Continue Reading ]
The word “God” is not in the original, and the adjective translated “great” is never used elsewhere absolutely in that sense. The simplest and best interpretation is: As the archer that woundeth everyone, so is he who hireth the fool, and he who hireth every passerby. Acting at random, entrusting ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare the marginal reference note. Here there is greater dramatic vividness in the two words used: (1) A roaring one, (2) a lion, more specifically.... [ Continue Reading ]
GRIEVETH HIM - Better, wearieth him.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN - The definite number used for the indefinite (compare Proverbs 24:16). REASON - Better, a right judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
The teacher cuts off the plea which people make when they have hurt their neighbor by lies, that they “did not mean mischief,” that they were “only in fun.” Such jesting is like that of the madman flinging firebrands or arrows.... [ Continue Reading ]
COALS - Charcoal.... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare the marginal reference note.... [ Continue Reading ]
BURNING LIPS - i. e., “Lips glowing with, affection, uttering warm words of love,” joined with a malignant heart, are like a piece of broken earthenware from the furnace, which glitters with the silver drops at stick to it, but is itself worthless.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN ABOMINATIONS - Compare Proverbs 26:16 note. Here “seven” retains, perhaps, its significance as the symbol of completeness. Evil has, as it were, gone through all its work, and holds its accursed Sabbath in the heart in which all things are “very evil.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Better, “Hatred is covered by deceit, but in the midst of the congregation his wickedness will be made manifest,” i. e., then, in the time of need, the feigned friendship will pass into open enmity.... [ Continue Reading ]
ROLLETH A STONE - The illustration refers, probably, to the use made of stones in the rough warfare of an earlier age. Compare Judges 9:53; 2 Samuel 11:21. The man is supposed to be rolling the stone up to the heights.... [ Continue Reading ]
The lying tongue hates its victims.... [ Continue Reading ]