KJV ORIGINAL
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Like vinegar that makes your teeth ache, and like smoke that makes your eyes burn, that's what a lazy person is like to those who send him to do a job.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is saying that lazy people cause pain and frustration to anyone who depends on them to get something done.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from Solomon's collection of wise sayings, written around 950 BC when most work was done by hand and required reliable people. In ancient times, vinegar was made from fermented wine and was quite harsh, while smoke from cooking fires and oil lamps was a constant irritant that people knew well from daily life.
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