This saying is somewhat uncertain because the word rendered “sling” occurs nowhere else in Hebrew. However, a similar word meaning “to stone” or “to kill by stoning” is used elsewhere.

“Like one who binds the stone in the sling”: The thought as expressed in Revised Standard Version is that if you “bind” or tie a stone in a sling, when the sling is released the stone cannot fly out. If the “sling” is unknown, it will be necessary to adjust this saying by using a known object, such as a slingshot (catapult) or a bow and arrow. For example, we may say, “If you tie an arrow to the bow string the arrow will not shoot.”

“Is he who gives honor to a fool”: “Honor” is the same term as used in verse 1. This line says that giving “honor” or respect to a fool is useless, because the fool is not capable of responding to honor. Therefore we may say, for example, “To show respect for a fool is as useless as hurling a sling with the stone tied to the sling.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .