PROV 26:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἐκ τῶν ὁδῶν ἑαυτοῦ ὄνειδος ποιεῖται ὁ ἀποστείλας διʼ ἀγγέλου ἄφρονος λόγον.
(Ek tōn hodōn heautou oneidos poieitai ho aposteilas diʼ angelou afronos logon. )

BrTr He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.

ULT One cutting off feet, one drinking violence,
⇔ is one sending words by the hand of a stupid one.

UST Anyone who asks a foolish person to take a message to someone
⇔ is doing something as foolish as cutting off his own feet or drinking poison.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
⇔ is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence,
⇔ so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

LSV He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury,
Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

FBV Trusting someone stupid to deliver a message is like cutting of your feet or drinking poison.

T4T ⇔ Anyone who asks a foolish person to take a message to someone
⇔ is himself doing something as foolish as cutting off his own feet
⇔ or drinking poison.

LEB • Like cutting off feet or drinking violence, so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.

BBE He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage.

Moff To send a fool with a messag
⇔ is to cut off your own feet--injuring yourself.

JPS He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage.

ASV He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
⇔ Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.

DRA He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity.

YLT He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

Drby He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.

RV He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
(He that sendeth/sends a message by the hand of a fool cutteth/cuts off his own feet, and drinketh/drinks in damage. )

SLT He drank violence, cutting off the feet, sending words by the hand of the foolish one.

Wbstr He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

KJB-1769 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.[fn]
(He that sendeth/sends a message by the hand of a fool cutteth/cuts off the feet, and drinketh/drinks damage. )

26.6 damage: or, violence

KJB-1611 [fn]He that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole, cutteth off the feete, and drinketh dammage.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

26:6 Or, violence.

Bshps As he that cutteth of his messengers feete endamageth himselfe: so doth he that committeth a message to a foole.
(As he that cutteth/cuts of his messengers feet endamageth himself: so doth/does he that committeth/commits a message to a fool.)

Gnva He that sendeth a message by the hand of a foole, is as he that cutteth off the feete, and drinketh iniquitie.
(He that sendeth/sends a message by the hand of a fool, is as he that cutteth/cuts off the feet, and drinketh/drinks iniquity. )

Cvdl He is lame of his fete, yee droncken is he in vanite, that comitteth eny thinge to a foole.
(He is lame of his feet, ye/you_all drunken is he in vanity, that committeth/commits anything to a fool.)

Wycl An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickidnesse, he that sendith wordis by a fonned messanger.
(An haltinge man in feet, and drinkinge wickedness, he that sendeth/sends words by a foolish messenger.)

Luth Wer eine Sache durch einen törichten Boten ausrichtet, der ist wie ein Lahmer an Füßen und nimmt Schaden.
(Who a/one matter through a foolishn messenger ausrichtet, the/of_the is as/like a Lahmer at/to feet and takes damage/harm(n).)

ClVg Claudus pedibus, et iniquitatem bibens, qui mittit verba per nuntium stultum.[fn]
(Claudus feet, and iniquity bibens, who/which sends words through nuntium stupidity. )

26.6 Claudus pedibus. Potest sapiens stultum mittere nesciens, nec tamen sapientiæ suæ gloriam perdit: quia de ignoto, bonum quod audierat, credit. Sed et qui hæreticum sciens mittit ad prædicandum, claudus est pedibus: Et iniquitatem bibens; quia et operis boni foris incessum amisit, et interiora sui sensus haustu stultitiæ debriat.

26.6 Claudus feet. Can wise stupidity to_send unaware, but_not nevertheless of_wisdom his/her_own glory loses: because from/about ignoto, good that had_heard, he_believes. But and who/which thesereticum knowing sends to to_preach, lame it_is feet: And iniquity bibens; because and work good outside incessum lost, and interior self sense haustu foolishness debriat.

SOTN 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

26:6

The first line illustrates the consequences of the action in the second line.

^6aLike cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence

^6bis the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

If a person entrusts a message to a fool, his action guarantees that the message will not be properly delivered. His action is as foolish and dangerous as deliberately harming himself. The exaggerated, sarcastic comparisons emphasize to the reader that it is extremely unwise to send a message in care of a fool.

26:6a

Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence

¶ Like a person who has cut off his feet or has drunk poison,
¶ What is the result if you^(sing) cut off your own feet or you drink poison?

Like cutting off one’s own feet: A messenger represents the person who sent him. His feet accomplish the same task as the sender’s feet would accomplish. If a person sends a fool, either the message will never arrive or else the fool will give the wrong message. The result will be the same as if the sender had cut off his own feet.As Fox (page 794) points out, the messenger serves as the sender’s “legs.” If a person sends a fool who cannot do the job properly, “he cripples himself.” Cohen (page 174) also suggests that “if a messenger is considered to be the feet of the sender, the latter, as it were, disables himself by failing to accomplish his purpose.”

Some other ways to translate this comparison are:

Like someone who cuts off his feet (Voice)

like chopping off your foot (CEV)

or drinking violence: The phrase drinking violence is a figure of speech. It can mean that a person:

causes himself to experience harm or injury (the effects of violence)
drinks poison (a harmful drink)

You may use either option in your translation.See UBS (page 560). Since the first comparison (cutting off one’s own feet) is an extreme exaggeration, you should translate the phrase drinking violence in a way that vividly refers to an extremely harmful action.Whybray (page 373) objects to the word “violence” in this context. He prefers the idea of “deliberate harm or injury.” Fox (page 794) understands the metaphor to refer to “self-inflicted injury.” Waltke (page 351) suggests something “as deadly as drinking poison.” Hubbard (page 414) also mentions the “irreparable permanent harm” of drinking poison. Several versions, including the NCV, have:

drinking poison

26:6a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ A person who sends a fool to make known what he wants to tell someone is like a person who chops off his own feet or deliberately injures himself.
¶ If you^(sing) trust a fool to deliver/tell your message to someone, you will harm yourself as much as a person who cuts off his own feet or drinks poison.

26:6b

is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

so is a person who sends a message through a fool.
If you^(sing) trust a fool to tell/give your words to someone, the result will be just as harmful.

is the sending of a message: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “sends words.” The words may have been spoken rather than written, so a fool could easily forget the message or pass it on incorrectly.UBS (page 560) and Cohen (page 174) both suggest that the message was verbal.

by the hand of a fool: This phrase is a figure of speech. The hand of a fool represents the fool himself. It indicates that the sender gave or told a message to the fool with instructions to communicate that message to a particular person.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

so is the one who uses a fool to pass on his message (Voice)

It is just as foolish to send a message in care of a fool.

General Comment on 26:6a–b

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

Trusting a fool to convey a message is as foolish as cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! (NLT96)

Notice that the NLT96 also makes explicit the similarity between the three actions. All three are foolish.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים בְּ⁠יַד־כְּסִֽיל

cutting_off feet violence/cruelty drinks sends message by_[the],hand_of fool

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “One who sends words by the hand of a stupid one is one who cuts off feet, one who drinks violence”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים בְּ⁠יַד־כְּסִֽיל

cutting_off feet violence/cruelty drinks sends message by_[the],hand_of fool

One who cuts off, one who drinks, one who sends, the hand, and a stupid one refer to types of people and hands in general, not specific people or a specific hand. 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: “Any person who cuts off feet, any person who drinks violence, is any person who sends words by any hand of any stupid person”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה

cutting_off feet violence/cruelty drinks

Here Solomon implies that a person cuts off his own feet and drinks violence against himself. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “One who cuts off his own feet, one who drinks violence against himself”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה

cutting_off feet violence/cruelty drinks

Here Solomon refers to someone who does something that harms himself as if that person cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “One who harms himself” or “Like one who cuts off feet or drinks violence”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה

cutting_off feet violence/cruelty drinks

The phrases One who cuts off feet and one who drinks violence mean similar things. Solomon is using the two phrases together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “One who does great harm to himself”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חָמָ֣ס

violence/cruelty

See how you translated the abstract noun violence in [3:31](../03/31.md).

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים

sends message

Here Solomon refers to a message that is communicated by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “is one who sends a message”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

בְּ⁠יַד־כְּסִֽיל

by_[the],hand_of fool

Here, hand refers to the whole person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “by a stupid one”

Parallel PROV 26:6

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

26:6

26:6a

26:6a–b

26:6b

General Comment on 26:6a–b