Proverbs 26:9

As a thorn goeth up. This is the normal way to translate the Hebrew of this clause, but the figure is obscure and the word for “goeth,” ‘alah, does not normally mean “to pierce.” It is possible, by a later usage of ‘alah, to translate the clause “as a thorn [or thornbush] comes into the hand of [that is, into the possession of] a drunkard.” The inebriate in possession of a thorny staff or even a thornbush would be armed and capable of doing great harm to others in his dull rage. Thus a parable told by a fool is both useless and dangerous.