Amplified Bible
Proverbs 26:6
6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence].
Proverbs 26:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
- New International Version (NIV)Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Context of Proverbs 26:6
4Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly, Otherwise you, even you, will be like him. 5Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly, Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him]. He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence]. 7Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom]. 8Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw], So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.
Read all of Proverbs 26Proverbs 26:6 word by word
מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים בְּיַד־כְּסִֽיל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 26:6
- Proverbs 10:26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him to work.
- Proverbs 13:17A wicked messenger falls into hardship, But a faithful ambassador brings healing.
- Proverbs 25:13Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to those who send him; For he refreshes the life of his masters.
- Numbers 13:31But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.”
Commentaries on Proverbs 26:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Cutteth off the feet - Sending by such a person is utterly useless. My old MS. Bible translates well: Halt in feet and drinking wickednesse that sendith wordis bi a foole messager. Nothing but lameness in himself can vindicate his sending it by such hands; and, after all, the expedient will be worse than the total omission, for he is likely to drink wickedness, i.e., the mischief occasioned by the fool's misconduct. Coverdale nearly hits the sense as…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Cutteth 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).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 Fools are not fit to be trusted, nor to have any honour. Wise sayings, as a foolish man delivers and applies them, lose their usefulness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. A fool fails by folly as surely as if he were maimed. drinketh damage--that is, gets it abundantly (Job 15:16; 34:7).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 26:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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