Proverbs 26:6 - Forerunner Commentary

Proverbs 26:6

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.

5 ^aAnswer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 ¹The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

11 ^aAs a dog returns to his own vomit,
^bSo a fool repeats his folly.

12 ^aDo you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the¹ streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.

Verse Comparison: Proverbs 26:6

American Standard Version
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off `his own' feet, `and' drinketh in damage.

Amplified® Bible
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet [of satisfactory delivery] and drinks the damage.

Contemporary English Version
Sending a message by a fool is like chopping off your foot and drinking poison.

Darby English Version
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.

Good News Bible
If you let a fool deliver a message, you might as well cut off your own feet; you are asking for trouble.

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

New American Standard Bible
He cuts off {his own} feet {and} drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

New International Version
Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

New King James Version
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

Revised Standard Version
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Young's Literal Translation
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

New English Translation
Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence,¹ so is sending² a message by the hand of a fool.³