Proverbs 26:9

Like a thorn ¹  that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. ² 

Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

A proverb in a fool’s mouth is as dangerous as a thornbush brandished by a drunkard.

To ask a moron to quote a proverb is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk.

Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.

Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Like a thorn ¹  that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. ² 

¹ sn The picture is one of seizing a thornbush and having the thorn pierce the hand (עָלָה בְיַד־, ’alah vÿyad). A drunk does not know how to handle a thornbush because he cannot control his movements and so gets hurt (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 599). C. H. Toy suggests that this rather means a half-crazy drunken man brandishing a stick (Proverbs [ICC], 475). In this regard cf. NLT “a thornbush brandished by a drunkard.”

² sn A fool can read or speak a proverb but will be intellectually and spiritually unable to handle it; he will misapply it or misuse it in some way. In doing so he will reveal more of his folly. It is painful to hear fools try to use proverbs.