Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
So, verse 4 says not to answer a fool according to his folly. But verse 5 tells us to answer a fool according to his folly. Confused? Is this a contradiction? Not at all. This is Solomon telling us that no matter how you answer a fool or don’t answer a fool, It’s a lose – lose situation.
So what’s the resolution? Avoid the fool.
Proverbs 23:9 says “Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.”
Avoid the fool. Where ever you may be going, avoid the fool. Do everything you can to avoid the fool.
The question then becomes “Who is the fool?” There is no single answer for that. But the more you study from proverbs, the easier it will be for you to identify them. Then, when you identify them, make it a point to avoid them.
Let this be a focus in your time of meditation throughout today. Until next time, Shalom
SOURCE: Steve Moutria at TorahFamily.org (Posted with permission)
https://torahfamily.org/broken-walls-proverbs/
