Catholic Commentary on Proverbs 26

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly." (Proverbs 26:11)

The Anatomy of Folly

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honour is not fitting for a fool. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbour and says, I was only joking. Where there is no wood, there the fire goes out; where there is no gossip, a quarrel dies down. Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

The Catechism identifies the sin of detraction and gossip as the destruction of reputation and community that Proverbs consistently names as one of the most corrosive of social evils (CCC 2477).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, where there is no gossip, a quarrel dies down. The fire of conflict requires fuel, and gossip is the fuel most readily available. The single most effective community-building act is the decision to stop passing on the inflammatory word. Let the fire die for want of wood. Keep the gossip.

Prayer

Lord God, make us people who let fires die for want of fuel. Keep our mouths from the gossip that keeps quarrels burning. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

26
Similitudes and Instructions
1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,
honor does not befit a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,* 26:11 Cited in 2 Peter 2:22
so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
 
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road!
A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish;
it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer discreetly.
 
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears
is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands
and deadly arrows,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
 
20 Without wood, a fire goes out;
without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
that go down into the inmost being.
 
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel
are burning † 26:23 Hebrew; LXX smooth lips and a wicked heart. 24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech,
but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

*26:11 26:11 Cited in 2 Peter 2:22

†26:23 26:23 Hebrew; LXX smooth

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