Proverbs 26:9 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Like a thornbush in the hand of a drunk person, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a fool.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse is saying that when foolish people try to share wisdom, they often misuse it and can cause harm, just like a drunk person handling something sharp and dangerous.

📚 Historical Context

This proverb comes from Solomon's collection of wise sayings, written around 950 BC. In ancient times, people would gather thorny branches for fuel or fencing, but handling them required care and skill. A drunk person couldn't handle thorns safely, making this a vivid image everyone would understand about the danger of wisdom in the wrong hands.

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