Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of the fool.
Noyes Bible
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 the sparrow wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause shall not come.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also become like to him.
Cross References
Proverbs 10:13Upon the lips of a man of understanding wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that lacketh understanding.
Proverbs 19:25Strike the scoffer, and the simple will become prudent; Reprove a man of understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
Proverbs 27:22Though thou shouldst beat a fool in a mortar, Among bruised wheat, with a pestle, Yet will not his folly depart from him.
2 Corinthians 10:6and being in readiness to punish every disobedience, when the measure of your obedience shall be full.
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 →