Proverbs 26:1

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.

American Standard Version (1901)

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.

Bible in Basic English

Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being cut, so honour is not natural for the foolish.

Douay-Rheims 1899

As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.

Free Bible Version

Honoring someone stupid is as inappropriate as snow in the summer or rain during harvest.

Geneva Bible 1599

As the snowe in the sommer, and as the raine in the haruest are not meete, so is honour vnseemely for a foole.

King James (Authorized) Version

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

One Unity Resource Bible

Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so kavod ·weighty glory· is not fitting for a fool.

Translation for Translators

Just like [SIM] it is not appropriate for snow to fall in summer time, or rain to fall at harvest time, it is not appropriate to praise/honor foolish people.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.

Noah Webster Bible

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest; so honor is not seemly for a fool.

World English Bible

Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

Young's Literal Translation

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.

Context

Similitudes and Instructions

¹Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. ²Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

Sermons

Relationships With Fools Part 1

Chuck Smith

1.2K

Summary

This verse compares the undeserved honor given to a fool with the inappropriate response to snow in summer or rain during the harvest season. Just as these weather occurrences are out of place and unhelpful, so is honoring a fool who does not deserve recognition. It serves as a caution against rewarding foolishness or incompetence, emphasizing the importance of discernment and wisdom in bestowing honor and praise.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
Tyndale

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

There now follows a group of eleven proverbs of the fool; only the first of the group has after it a proverb of different contents, but of similar form: As snow in summer, and rain in harvest; So honour befitteth not a fool. If there is snow in high summer (קיץ, to be glowing hot), it is contrary to nature; and if there is rain in harvest, it is (according to the alternations of the weather in Palestine) contrary to what is usually the case, and is a hindrance to the ingathering of the fruits of the field. Even so a fool and respect, or a place of honour, are incongruous things; honour will only injure him (as according to Pro 19:10, luxury); he will make unjust use of it, and draw false conclusions from it; it will strengthen him in his folly, and only increase it. נאוה (= נאוי) is the adj. to the Pil. נאוה, Psa 93:5 (plur. נאווּ); נאוה, Pro 19:10, and נאוה, Pro 17:7, are also masc. and fem. of the adj., according to which, that which is said under Pro 19:10 is to be corrected. Symmachus and Theodotion have translated οὐκ ἔπρεψεν, and have therefore read נאוה. The root word is נאה (as שׁחה to שׁחוה) = נוה, to aim at something (vid., Hupfeld under Psa 23:2).