Folly's foul fruits

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Devotions: Proverbs 26

Honors to a fool are like a snowstorm in summer or rain during harvest. A curse without cause has nowhere to land—like a flitting sparrow or a swallow on wing. Whips for horses, bridles for donkeys, and a rod for the back of fools. Don’t dialog with a fool in his folly, lest you become like him. But address his folly, so he won’t be wise in his own eyes. One who sends a fool as his messenger is cutting off his own feet and drinking violence. Like paralyzed legs, hanging useless, is a proverb in a fool’s mouth. Honoring a fool is like tying a stone in a sling—it swings, but has no impact. Like a thorn spiking a drunkard’s hand is a proverb on the lips of fools. Like an archer shooting wildly and injuring anyone nearby is one who hires a passing fool or a drunk. As a dog laps up its own vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. Notice a man wise in his own eyes: there is more hope for a fool than for that man. The sluggard stays home, claiming ‘There are lions in the streets and roads!’ A door turns on its hinges; just so a sluggard turns in his bed. He buries his hand in the dish, but is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men capable of discreet, wise responses. To meddle in someone else’s quarrel is like grabbing an attack dog by its ears. Like a terrorist casting firebrands, arrows and death is a many who lies to his neighbor, then claims, ‘I’m only joking.’ Without wood, a fire dies; without gossip, quarreling ceases. Like charcoal or wood fuel a blaze, so a quarrelsome person kindles strife. A gossip’s rumors penetrate to the innermost parts, like delicious morsels of forbidden food. Like the glaze covering a pot are glib words from an evil heart. Anyone who hates lies with his words and harbors deceit in his heart; when he talks graciously, decline to believe him for seven abominations are in his heart, and though guile hides his malice, his wickedness will be exposed to the whole community. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; an avalanche will crush the one who starts it rolling.