PROV 26:1 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

26:1–28

This chapter warns against various kinds of behavior that can endanger or harm either individuals or their community as a whole. There are three main topics: the fool (26:1–12), the lazy person (26:13–16), and people who damage their relationships with others in various ways, especially in the way that they speak (26:17–28).

The chapter contains many comparisons. Verses 1, 2, 8, 11, 18, and 22 use similes. In Hebrew, verses 3, 7, 9, 10, 14, 20, and 21 use the word “and” to join the two lines. Verses 6, 17, and 23 simply join the two lines without a word such as “like” or “and.”This chapter summary is taken from UBS (pages 556–557) and Whybray (pages 370–371). In Hebrew, all these comparisons give the illustration before the topic.

Some English versions use similes to translate all three kinds of comparison. Some versions also put the topic before the illustration. In each case, you should use a natural way in your language to express the comparison.

26:1–12

Except for verse 2, these verses all say something about fools. The same Hebrew word for “fool” is used each time. See the note in 26:1b.

26:1

This proverb uses two unusual weather conditions to illustrate that it is inappropriate or wrong for a fool to be honored. The underlined parts refer to things that are inappropriate in certain contexts (parts with bold print).

^1aLike snow in summer and rain at harvest,

^1b honor does not befit a fool.

The similarity between the two illustrations (26:1a) and the topic (26:1b) is that all three describe situations that:

should not occur
are not normal or suitable
may cause damage

26:1a

Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,

¶ It shouldn’t snow in summer or rain at harvest. (NCV)
¶ If there is snow in the hot season or there is rain in the dry season, people think that something is not right/normal.

Like snow in summer and rain at harvest: In Palestine, it does not normally snow during the hot summer months. Nor does it rain during the dry harvest season when crops are ripe. Snow and rain during these times would be inappropriate and would damage the crops.

snow in summer: In some areas, people may not be familiar with snow or summer. Another way to translate this phrase is:

cold in the hot season

rain at harvest: Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

rain during the dry season

rain when it is time to gather ripe crops

26:1a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ When people honor a fool, that respect/honor is not appropriate/normal. It is like snow that falls when it is hot or rain that falls during the dry time.
¶ If people appoint a foolish person to a job where he has authority and honor, it is not appropriate/suitable. It is like a cold day in the hot months or like rain when it is time to gather ripe crops.

26:1b

honor does not befit a fool.

Neither should a foolish person ever be honored. (NCV)
Similarly, it is not appropriate/right if a stupid fool has an important/high position.

honor: Many scholars think that the word honor refers here to a position of high status and responsibility in the community.These scholars include Cohen (page 173), Whybray (page 371), Waltke (pages 345–346), and Toy (page 472). Delitzsch (page 381) and Ross (page 1086) mention both respect and a position of honor. McKane (page 595) mentions “reputation, stature and influence.” The GNT translates this word as “praise.” If possible, use a word or phrase in your language that includes respect, authority, and other kinds of honor.

does not befit: The phrase that the BSB translates as does not befit means “unsuitable,” “inappropriate,” or “wrong.” It refers to a situation that is contrary to what people in a particular culture consider to be normal or proper.

a fool: In Hebrew, this word for fool refers to someone who does what is stupid and wrong because he is mentally lazy and self-satisfied. He does not understand the need to change his own foolish behavior and does not want to think about the consequences. See fool 2 in the Glossary.

Some other ways to translate 26:1b are:

so honor is not right for a fool (GW)

Neither should a foolish person ever be honored

In the same way, it is inappropriate to appoint a fool to a high/important position.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

כַּ⁠שֶּׁ֤לֶג ׀ בַּ⁠קַּ֗יִץ וְ⁠כַ⁠מָּטָ֥ר בַּ⁠קָּצִ֑יר כֵּ֤ן לֹא־נָאוֶ֖ה לִ⁠כְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד

like,snow in,summer and,like,rain at,harvest yes/correct/thus/so not fitting for,a_fool honour

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “Honor is not suitable for a stupid one like the snow in the summer and like the rain in the harvest”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

כַּ⁠שֶּׁ֤לֶג ׀ בַּ⁠קַּ֗יִץ וְ⁠כַ⁠מָּטָ֥ר בַּ⁠קָּצִ֑יר & לִ⁠כְסִ֣יל

like,snow in,summer and,like,rain at,harvest & for,a_fool

Here, the snow, the summer, the rain, the harvest, and a stupid one, refer to these things and that type of person in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. See how you translated a stupid one in [10:18](../10/18.md). Alternate translation: “Like any snow in any summer and like any rain in any harvest … for any stupid person”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כַּ⁠שֶּׁ֤לֶג ׀ בַּ⁠קַּ֗יִץ וְ⁠כַ⁠מָּטָ֥ר בַּ⁠קָּצִ֑יר

like,snow in,summer and,like,rain at,harvest

The words Like and so in this verse indicate that Solomon is comparing snow in the summer and rain in the harvest with honor for a stupid one. The point is that all three of these are not suitable or inappropriate. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this more explicit. Alternate translation: “Just as the snow in the summer or the rain in the harvest are not suitable”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

כָּבֽוֹד

honour

See how you translated the abstract noun honor in [3:16](../03/16.md).

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 26:1

Hebrew word order