Proverbs 26:10

"Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools."

Key Reflection

In Proverbs 26:10, the image of a thorn bush placed in a drunkard's hand highlights how harmful and self-destructive foolish speech can be. Just as a drunkard would unknowingly and unintentionally harm himself by grasping a thorn, so too do fools misuse parables, causing more damage than good.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The word “God” is not in the original, and the adjective translated “great” is never used elsewhere absolutely in that sense. The simplest and best interpretation is: As the archer that woundeth everyone, so is he who hireth the fool, and he who hireth every passerby. Acting at random, entrusting matters of grave moment to men of bad repute, is as likely to do mischief as to shoot arrows at everyone.

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