Proverbs 26:1-14
summer <07019> [in summer.]
honor <03519> [so.]
curse <07045> [so.]
According to our notions, we should rather say, a bridle for the horse, and a whip for the ass; but it should be considered, that the Eastern asses are not only much more beautiful, but better goers that ours; and being active and well broken, they need only a bridle to guide them; whereas their horses being scarce, and often caught wild, and badly broken, are much less manageable, and need the correction of the whip.
fool <03684> [a fool.]
wise <02450> [lest.]
own estimation <05869> [conceit. Heb. eyes.]
so ... sending <07971> [sendeth.]
violence <02555> [damage. or, violence.]
hang limp <01809> [not equal. Heb. lifted up. so.]
stone .... sling <068 04773 06872> [bindeth a stone in a sling. Heb. putteth a precious stone in a heap of stones.]
This probably refers, as Coverdale understands it, to the custom of throwing a stone to the heap under which a criminal was buried. So the Vulgate, {Sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Mercurii; ita qui tribuit insipienti honorem,} "As he who throws a stone to Mercury's heap, so is he who gives honour to a fool." Mercury was a heathen god of highways; and stones were erected in different parts to guide the traveller: hence those lines of Dr. Young, "Death stands like Mercuries in every way; And kindly points us to our journey's end."
giving <05414> [so.]
[The great, etc. or, A great man grieveth all; and he hireth the fool, he hireth also the transgressors.]
an archer who wounds at random so ...... hires ..... hires <07936> [both.]
dog <03611> [a dog.]
[returneth to his folly. Heb. iterateth his folly.]
see <07200> [Seest.]
man <0376> [a man.]
