Fools Throwing Wisdom Away III

Sunday, August 28, 2022

11 As a dog eats its own vomit,

    so fools recycle silliness.

12 See that man who thinks he’s so bright?

    You can expect far more from a fool than from him.

13 Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there!

    Tigers are prowling the streets!”

    and then pull the covers back over their heads.

14 Just as a door turns on its hinges,

    lazybones turn back in bed.

15 A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie

    but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth.

Proverbs 26:11-16 The Message

11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit

    is a fool who 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

    There is a lion in the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

    so does a sluggard on his bed.

15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

    it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

    than seven men who can answer sensibly.

-Proverbs 26:11-16 ESV

Verse 11 study: Fools will not learn from their mistakes but repeat them like a dog to its vomit.

Verse 12 study: The degree of folly is found in the highest of the fools that think are wise. Examples are seen in worldly wisdom that regards God’s wisdom as folly.

Verses 13-16 studies: If you find excuses not to work, you won’t work and will have endless reasons not to work. Laziness is more dangerous than a prowling lion. The less you do, the less you want to do, and the more useless you become. To overcome laziness, take some steps towards change. Set realistic goals, figure out your steps towards change, and follow these steps. Pray for strength and persistence. To keep excuses from making you useless, stop making excuses. It’s not worth it.

Verse 14 study: Like a door on its hinges, a lazy person turn restlessly on their beds.

Verse 16 study: The number 7 is precise. It symbolizes completeness. But it is not necessary for this instance; it serves only to highlight the self-delusion of the fool.