Proverbs 26
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The whole Book of Proverbs in theLeningrad Codex (1008 C.E.) from an old fascimile edition.
Book	Book of Proverbs
Category	Ketuvim
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	21

Proverbs 26 is the 26thchapter of theBook of Proverbs in theHebrew Bible or theOld Testament of theChristianBible.^[1][2] The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regardSolomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.^[3] This chapter is the last part of the fifth collection of the book,^[4] so-called "the Second Solomonic Collection."^[5]

The following table shows theHebrew text^[6][7] of Proverbs 26 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917 translation (now in thepublic domain).

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter inHebrew are of theMasoretic Text, which includes theAleppo Codex (10th century), andCodex Leningradensis (1008).^[8]

There is also a translation intoKoine Greek known as theSeptuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version includeCodex Vaticanus (B;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^B; 4th century),Codex Sinaiticus (S;BHK:${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^S; 4th century), andCodex Alexandrinus (A;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^A; 5th century).^[9]

This chapter belongs to a further collection of Solomonic proverbs, transmitted andedited by royal scribes during the reign ofHezekiah, comprisingProverbs 25–29.^[10] Based on differences in style and subject-matter there could be two originally separate collections:^[10]

1. Proverbs 25–27: characterized by many similes and the 'earthy' tone
2. Proverbs 28–29: characterized by many antithetical sayings and the predominantly 'moral and religious' tone (cf.Proverbs 10–15)

The first twelve verses of this chapter, except verse 2, "Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight",^[11] form a series of sayings on the 'fool',^[10] so sometimes are called “the Book of Fools”.^[12]

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.^[13]

• "Honor": may likely refer to "respect, external recognition of worth, accolades, advancement to high position", etc., all of which would be 'out of place with a fool'.^[14]

He who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him

is like one who takes a dog by the ears.^[15]

• "Meddles" from the Hebrew wordמִתְעַבֵּר,mitʿabber, meaning "to put oneself in a fury" or "become furious"; the Latin version apparently assumed the verb wasעָרַב,ʿarav, which has th sense of “meddle”.^[16]

• Aitken, K. T. (2007). "19. Proverbs". InBarton, John;Muddiman, John (eds.).The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 405–422.ISBN 978-0199277186. RetrievedFebruary 6, 2019.
• Alter, Robert (2010).The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes: A Translation with Commentary. W.W. Norton & Co.ISBN 978-0393080735.
• Coogan, Michael David (2007). Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.).The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 (Augmented 3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.ISBN 9780195288810.
• Farmer, Kathleen A. (1998). "The Wisdom Books". In McKenzie, Steven L.; Graham, Matt Patrick (eds.).The Hebrew Bible Today: An Introduction to Critical Issues. Westminster John Knox Press.ISBN 978-0-66425652-4.
• Fox, Michael V. (2009).Proverbs 10-31: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries. Yale University Press.ISBN 978-0300155563.
• Halley, Henry H. (1965).Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary (24th (revised) ed.). Zondervan Publishing House.ISBN 0-310-25720-4.
• Perdue, Leo G. (2012).Proverbs Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.ISBN 978-0664238841.
• Würthwein, Ernst (1995).The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2019.

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 26 (Judaica Press) translation [withRashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 26 King James Version
• Book of Proverbs public domain audiobook atLibriVox Various versions

• Book of Proverbs chapters

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• Articles containing Hebrew-language text
• Articles with LibriVox links