The big picture
Proverbs 26 opens in verse 1 with “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.”, and closes in verse 28 with “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh…” Repeated or prominent terms include fool, mouth, conceit, folly, hand. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 28Proverbs 26:1-7
1–7: As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a…
Proverbs 26:1–7 opens with “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.” and reaches “The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 26 develops its own movement around fool, mouth, conceit, folly, hand, with particular weight carried by fool, Answer, folly.
Context that brings the passage to life
“As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fool, harvest, honour. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 26:1-7
King James Version1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:8-14
8–14: As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a…
Proverbs 26:8–14 opens with “As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.” and reaches “As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 26 develops its own movement around fool, mouth, conceit, folly, hand, with particular weight carried by fool, lion, returneth.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bindeth, fool, giveth. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 26:8-14
King James Version8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Proverbs 26:15-21
15–21: The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it…
Proverbs 26:15–21 opens with “The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.” and reaches “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 26 develops its own movement around fool, mouth, conceit, folly, hand, with particular weight carried by strife, coals, fire.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Proverbs 26:15-21
King James Version15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Proverbs 26:22-28
22–28: The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the…
Proverbs 26:22–28 opens with “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” and reaches “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 26 develops its own movement around fool, mouth, conceit, folly, hand, with particular weight carried by covered, deceit, hateth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include belly, innermost, parts. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 26:22-28
King James Version22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 26:1 begins with “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 26:12 forms a natural hinge: “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
The final note
Proverbs 26:28 leaves the reader with “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words fool, mouth, conceit, folly, hand, slothful help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Isaac respond to repeated disputes?
He relocates and digs again until a well is not contested, while later accepting a negotiated peace.
What persists from Abraham's story?
The promise, altars, wells, outsider status and the dangerous sister deception.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- doth
- does
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.