Proverbs 26:8
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool.
American King James Version (AKJV)
As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool.
American Standard Version (ASV)
As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.
Webster's Revision
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
World English Bible
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
English Revised Version (ERV)
As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Clarke's Proverbs 26:8 Bible Commentary
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool - It is entirely thrown away. This, however, is a difficult proverb; and the versions give but little light on the subject. The Hebrew may be translated, "As a piece of precious stone among a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honor to a fool." Or, As he that putteth a precious stone in a heap of stones. See Parkhurst: but on this interpretation the meaning would rather be, "It is as useless to throw a jewel among a heap of stones to increase its bulk, as to give honor to a fool."
As he that sendith a stoon into a hepe of monee; so he that geveth to an unwiisman wirschip - Old MS. Bible.
"He that setteth a foole in hye dignite, that is even as yf a man dyd caste a precious stone upon the galous." - Coverdale. This translator refers to the custom of throwing a stone to the heap under which a criminal lay buried. The Vulgate gives some countenance to this translation: "He who gives honor to a fool is like one who throws a stone to Mercury's heap." Mercury was considered the deity who presided over the highways; and stones were erected in different places to guide the traveler. Hence those lines of Dr. Young: -
"Death stands like Mercuries in every way;
And kindly points us to our journey's end."
Barnes's Proverbs 26:8 Bible Commentary
i. e., "To give honor to the fool is like binding a stone in a sling; you cannot throw it." In each case you misapply and so waste. Others render in the sense of the margin: To use a precious stone where a pebble would be sufficient, is not less foolish than to give honor to a fool.
Wesley's Proverbs 26:8 Bible Commentary
26:8 Bindeth - Whereby he hinders his own design of throwing the stone out of it. So - No less absurd is he that giveth to a fool that honour which he is not capable of using aright.