English Standard Version
Proverbs 26:27
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
Proverbs 26:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.
Context of Proverbs 26:27
25when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. 28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Read all of Proverbs 26Proverbs 26:27 word by word
כֹּֽרֶה־שַּׁ֭חַת בָּ֣הּ יִפֹּ֑ל וְגֹ֥לֵ֥ל אֶ֝בֶן אֵלָ֥יו תָּשֽׁוּב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 26:27
- Proverbs 28:10Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
- Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
- Psalms 7:15He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.
- Psalms 9:15The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
- Psalms 10:2In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
- Psalms 57:6They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
- Ecclesiastes 10:8He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
Commentaries on Proverbs 26:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Whoso diggeth a pit - See note on Psalm 7:15. There is a Latin proverb like this: Malum consilium consultori pessimum, "A bad counsel, but worst to the giver." Harm watch; harm catch.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27Rolleth 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.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27Verse 27 What pains men take to do mischief to others! but it is digging a pit, it is rolling a stone, hard work; and they prepare mischief to themselves.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27People often face the negative outcomes they plan for others (see Proverbs 1:17–19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-2726-27. Deceit will at last be exposed, and the wicked by their own arts often bring on retribution (compare Pr 12:13; Psa 7:16; 9:17, &c.).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 26:27
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries