Proverbs 26:3
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, || And a rod for the back of fools.
Literal Standard Version
In The King James Version
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
In Context
2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, || So reviling without cause does not come.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, || Lest you are like to him—even you.
Cross References
Judges 8:5and he says to the men of Succoth, “Please give cakes of bread to the people who [are] at my feet, for they [are] wearied, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”
Proverbs 10:13Wisdom is found in the lips of the intelligent, || And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.
Proverbs 19:25Strike a scorner, and the simple acts prudently, || And give reproof to the intelligent, || He understands knowledge.
Proverbs 27:22If you beat the foolish in a mortar, || Among washed things—with a pestle, || His folly does not turn aside from off him.
2 Corinthians 10:6and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:3
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. Here is, 1. The folly of passion. It makes men scatter causeless curses, wishing ill to others upon presumption that they are bad and have done ill, when either they mistake the person or misunderstand the fact, or they call evil good and good evil. Give honour to a fool, and he thunders out his anathemas against all that he is disgusted with, right or wrong. Great men, when wicked, think they have a privilege to keep… Read the whole commentary →