Proverbs:26

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* Verse 1 - Honour is out of season to those unworthy and unfit for it . mhcc @Proverbs:26:2 . @ Verse 2 . -. He that is cursed without cause , the curse shall do him no more harm than the bird that flies over his head .3 . Every creature must be dealt with according to its nature , but careless and profligate sinners never will be ruled by reason and persuasion . Man indeed is born like the wild ass 's colt ; but some , by the grace of God , are changed .4 ,5 . We are to fit our remarks to the man , and address them to his conscience , so as may best end the debate .6-9 . Fools are not fit to be trusted , nor to have any honour . Wise sayings , as a foolish man delivers and applies them , lose their usefulness .10 . This verse may either declare how the Lord , the Creator of all men , will deal with sinners according to their guilt , or , how the powerful among men should disgrace and punish the wicked .11 . The dog is a loathsome emblem of those sinners who return to their vices , 2Peter strkjv @2:22 .12 . We see many a one who has some little sense , but is proud of it . This describes those who think their spiritual state to be good , when really it is very bad .13 . The slothful man hates every thing that requires care and labour . But it is foolish to frighten ourselves from real duties by fancied difficulties . This may be applied to a man slothful in the duties of religion .14 . Having seen the slothful man in fear of his work , here we find him in love with his ease . Bodily ease is the sad occasion of many spiritual diseases . He does not care to get forward with his business . Slothful professors turn thus . The world and the flesh are hinges on which they are hung ; and though they move in a course of outward services , yet they are not the nearer to heaven .15 . The sluggard is now out of his bed , but he might have lain there , for any thing he is likely to bring to pass in his work . It is common for men who will not do their duty , to pretend they cannot . Those that are slothful in religion , will not be at the pains to feed their souls with the bread of life , nor to fetch in promised blessings by prayer .16 . He that takes pains in religion , knows he is working for a good Master , and that his labour shall not be in vain .17 . To make ourselves busy in other men 's matters , is to thrust ourselves into temptation .18 ,19 . He that sins in jest , must repent in earnest , or his sin will be his ruin .20-22 . Contention heats the spirit , and puts families and societies into a flame . And that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning by whisperers and backbiters .23 . A wicked heart disguising itself , is like a potsherd covered with the dross of silver . mhcc @Proverbs:26:24-26 . @ Verse 24-26 . -. Always distrust when a man speaks fair unless you know him well . Satan , in his temptations , speaks fair , as he did to Eve ; but it is madness to give credit to him .27 . What pains men take to do mischief to others ! but it is digging a pit , it is rolling a stone , hard work ; and they prepare mischief to themselves .28 . There are two sorts of lies equally detestable . A slandering lie , the mischief of this every body sees . A flattering lie , which secretly works ruin . A wise man will be more afraid of a flatterer than of a slanderer . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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