PROV 26:8 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

26:8

In this proverb, a person who honors a fool (second line) is compared to a person who ties a stone in a sling (first line).

^8aLike binding a stone into a sling

^8bis the giving of honor to a fool.

The similarity is that both these actions are:

foolish or ridiculous. They are not sensible or reasonable.
useless. They do accomplish any useful purpose.

The topic of honoring a fool last occurred in 26:1. That verse used the same Hebrew word for “honor,” but the comparison and the point of similarity were different.

26:8a

Like binding a stone into a sling

¶ To tie a stone in a sling/slingshot is ridiculous.
¶ Does a person tie an arrow to the bowstring? Of course not!

Like binding a stone into a sling: A person normally uses a sling to throw or shoot a stone at a target. To tie or bind the stone in the center (pouch) of the sling would be ridiculous, because then the stone would go nowhere.

sling: A sling was made from a strip of leather or cloth with a widened area or pouch halfway between the two ends. A person would place a stone in the pouch. He would hold the ends of the strip together and swing the sling. He would then let go of one of the ends so that the stone flew out.

If people in your area are not familiar with this type of sling, you may:

Use a similar weapon, such as a slingshot.
Use a different kind of weapon, such as a bow and arrow.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

Like one who ties a stone in his slingshot (Voice)

Like a person who ties the arrow to the string of his bowAdapted from UBS (page 561).

26:8a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ If you^(sing) respect/honor a fool, you are like a person who ties a stone in a slingshot.
¶ People who show respect/honor to a fool are not thinking clearly/sensibly. They are as foolish as a person who fastens the stone to his slingshot before he shoots/throws.

26:8b

is the giving of honor to a fool.

It is also ridiculous/senseless to honor a fool.
It is just as useless to show honor to a fool.

is the giving of honor to a fool: Some other ways to translate this line are:

so is one who honors a fool (Voice)

to give honor to a fool (NRSV)

It is similar to show respect to a fool.

General Comment on 26:8a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to state the topic before the illustration. For example:

Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot. (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

כִּ⁠צְר֣וֹר אֶ֭בֶן בְּ⁠מַרְגֵּמָ֑ה כֵּן־נוֹתֵ֖ן לִ⁠כְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד

as,ties stone in,a_sling yes/correct/thus/so giving to,a_fool honour

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “One who gives honor to a stupid one is like tying a stone in a sling”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כִּ⁠צְר֣וֹר אֶ֭בֶן בְּ⁠מַרְגֵּמָ֑ה

as,ties stone in,a_sling

The words Like and so in this verse indicate that Solomon is comparing tying a stone in a sling with giving honor to a stupid one. The point is that both of these are useless. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this more explicit. Alternate translation: “Just as tying a stone in a sling is useless”

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

כִּ⁠צְר֣וֹר אֶ֭בֶן בְּ⁠מַרְגֵּמָ֑ה

as,ties stone in,a_sling

A sling is a weapon used to throw a stone at someone. The act of tying a stone in a sling would make that sling useless. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of weapon, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “Like tying an arrow to a bow” or “Like a weapon that cannot hurt anyone”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נוֹתֵ֖ן & כָּבֽוֹד

giving & honour

Here Solomon refers to honoring someone as if honor were an object that someone gives to someone else. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “is one who honors”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לִ⁠כְסִ֣יל

to,a_fool

See how you translated a stupid one in [10:18](../10/18.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 26:8