New International Version Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. New Living Translation Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! English Standard Version Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Berean Standard Bible Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Berean Literal Bible Cutting off feet, drinking violence, is sending a message by the hand of fool. King James Bible He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. New King James Version He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. New American Standard Bible One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Chops off his own feet and drinks violence. NASB 1995 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. NASB 1977 He cuts off his own feet, and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. Legacy Standard Bible He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends words by the hand of a fool. Amplified Bible He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence]. Berean Annotated Bible Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Christian Standard Bible The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Holman Christian Standard Bible The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. American Standard Version He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage. Contemporary English Version Sending a message by a fool is like chopping off your foot just to spite yourself. English Revised Version He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage. GOD'S WORD® Translation Whoever uses a fool to send a message cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself. Good News Translation If you let a fool deliver a message, you might as well cut off your own feet; you are asking for trouble. International Standard Version Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. NET Bible Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool. New Heart English Bible One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence. Webster's Bible Translation He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleLike cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. World English Bible One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, "" Who is sending things by the hand of a fool. Berean Literal Bible Cutting off feet, drinking violence, is sending a message by the hand of fool. Young's Literal Translation He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool. Smith's Literal Translation He drank violence, cutting off the feet, sending words by the hand of the foolish one. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and drinketh iniquity. Catholic Public Domain Version Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity. New American Bible Those who send messages by a fool cut off their feet; they drink down violence. New Revised Standard Version It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence, to send a message by a fool. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe who sends a message by the hand of a fool drinks iniquity from under his own feet. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He that sends a message by the hand of a fool is asking for trouble. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage. Brenton Septuagint Translation He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Similitudes and Instructions…5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. 6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. 7Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.… Cross References Like cutting off one’s own feet Proverbs 25:19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. Proverbs 6:32 He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Proverbs 8:36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.” or drinking violence Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. Proverbs 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood. Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake. is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Proverbs 13:17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. Proverbs 25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. Proverbs 10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him. Proverbs 17:7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler! Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 29:19 A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond. Proverbs 14:15 The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps. Proverbs 19:2 Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark. Proverbs 20:19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips. Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty. Treasury of Scripture He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage. sendeth Proverbs 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. Proverbs 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. Proverbs 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. Jump to Previous Cuts Cutteth Cutting Damage Drinketh Drinking Drinks Feet Fool Foolish Hand Injury Message News One's Sending Sends ViolenceJump to Next Cuts Cutteth Cutting Damage Drinketh Drinking Drinks Feet Fool Foolish Hand Injury Message News One's Sending Sends ViolenceProverbs 26 1. observations about fools13. about sluggards 17. and about contentious busybodies Like cutting off one’s own feet A man who maims himself loses the ability to travel, work, and carry out ordinary responsibilities. The comparison portrays the damage done when someone depends on a fool. Pro 25:19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint… or drinking violence Rather than receiving help, the one who sends a fool brings harm upon himself. The result is trouble that must be endured, as though he had taken violence into himself. Pro 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and… is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. Messages in the ancient world often carried urgent business, legal, or personal matters. A fool could neglect the task, misstate the message, or act without judgment, causing loss to the one who entrusted him. Pro 13:17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy… Persons / Places / Events 1. The FoolIn the context of Proverbs, a fool is someone who lacks wisdom and understanding, often rejecting God's ways. The fool is central to this verse as the one entrusted with a message. 2. The Messenger The person who sends a message, representing someone who makes decisions about whom to trust with important tasks. 3. The Message Represents important communication or tasks that require wisdom and reliability. 4. The Sender The individual who chooses to send the message through a fool, illustrating poor judgment. 5. The Imagery of Violence The verse uses vivid imagery to describe the consequences of trusting a fool, likening it to self-harm and chaos. Teaching Points The Importance of DiscernmentDiscernment is crucial in choosing whom to trust with important tasks. Just as one would not cut off their own feet, one should not entrust a fool with significant responsibilities. Consequences of Poor Judgment Making unwise decisions, such as sending a message through a fool, leads to self-inflicted harm and chaos, akin to "drinking violence." Value of Wisdom and Understanding Wisdom and understanding are vital in decision-making processes. Seeking God's guidance helps avoid the pitfalls of relying on foolishness. Guarding Against Foolishness Believers are called to guard against foolishness in their own lives and in their associations, ensuring that their actions align with God's wisdom. The Role of Accountability Accountability in our choices, especially in whom we trust, reflects our commitment to living wisely and honoring God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Proverbs 26:6?2. How does Proverbs 26:6 warn against trusting unreliable messengers in our lives? 3. What consequences arise from sending "a message by the hand of a fool"? 4. How can we discern reliable messengers using biblical principles? 5. What other Proverbs emphasize the importance of wisdom in communication? 6. How can we apply Proverbs 26:6 in choosing leaders or representatives today? 7. What does Proverbs 26:6 mean by "cutting off one's own feet"? 8. How does Proverbs 26:6 relate to trusting unreliable people? 9. Why does Proverbs 26:6 compare sending a message by a fool to self-harm? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 26? (6) Cutteth off the feet.--He wants his business done, but if he sends a fool to do it, he might as well cut off his messenger's legs, for the business will not be transacted; nay, worse than this, he will "drink damage," i.e., suffer positive mischief from the blundering of his emissary.Verse 6. - He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool. This clause comes in the Hebrew after the next. Cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. To entrust an important commission to a fool is to deprive one's self of the means of having it properly executed, and to bring upon one's self shame and injury. A man who is so silly as to employ such an unfit messenger, as it were, cuts off the feet which should bear him on his errand, and, instead of enjoying the satisfaction of seeing the business well performed, he will be mortified and damaged by the blunder and stupidity of his emissary. Septuagint, "He maketh for himself reproach from his own ways (ὁδῶν,? ποδῶν) who sendeth a word by a foulish messenger." The Vulgate reads the first participle in a passive sense, claudus pedibus; but this is uneccessary. We have similar phrases to "drinketh damage" elsewhere; e.g., Job 15:16 "drinketh in iniquity;" 34:7, "drinketh up scorn;" and with a different word, Proverbs 19:28, "devoureth iniquity." Proverbs 26:6 warns that relying on a fool to represent you is self-sabotage. It cripples your progress like severed feet and injects turmoil like a draught of violence. Wisdom chooses trustworthy messengers, preserving both the message and the messenger’s reputation. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Like cutting offמְקַצֶּ֣ה (mə·qaṣ·ṣeh) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7096: To cut off, to destroy, to scrape off one’s own feet רַ֭גְלַיִם (raḡ·la·yim) Noun - fd Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda or drinking שֹׁתֶ֑ה (šō·ṯeh) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8354: To imbibe violence חָמָ֣ס (ḥā·mās) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain is the sending שֹׁלֵ֖חַ (šō·lê·aḥ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out of a message דְּבָרִ֣ים (də·ḇā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause by the hand בְּיַד־ (bə·yaḏ-) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand of a fool. כְּסִֽיל׃ (kə·sîl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool Additonal Resources Proverbs 26:6 Blue Letter BibleProverbs 26:6 Bible Gateway Proverbs 26:6 Bible.com Proverbs 26:6 NIV |
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