Proverbs 26:6
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
- KJV
- He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
- WEB
- One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
- ASV
- He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
- DARBY
- He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
- BLB
- Cutting off feet, drinking violence, [is] sending a message by the hand of fool.
- ÅB
- Den som sender bud med en dåre, han hugger føttene av seg, han må tåle slem medfart.
- OTB
- Å sende et budskap med en dåre er som å kutte av sine egne føtter og drikke vold.
- B1930
- Den som sender bud med en dåre, han hugger føttene av sig, han må tåle slem medfart.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
Read in contextProverbs 10:26
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
Read in contextProverbs 25:13
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Read in contextNumbers 13:31
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Read in context