Proverbs 26:3
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
Young's Literal Translation
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 doth not come.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
Cross References
Judges 8:5and he saith to the men of Succoth, 'Give, I pray you, 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 10:13In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.
Proverbs 19:25A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.
Proverbs 27:22If thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things — with a pestle, His folly turneth not 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 →