Proverbs 26:4-5

[Marycita]

Hi! I was wondering if you all could help me with a confusion I can't seem to understand. Does anyone have any insights into the contradiction between proverbs 26:4 and 26:5?

In my version (NLT) :

4 Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation

So...are we supposed to or not?

 

[HypnoToad]

Part of it is translation. I would prefer "lest" instead of "or you will" - they have different connotations. "Lest" isn't used much today, so it's meaning is lost on many people. It is closer to "if" than "you will".

These are actually conditional statements. The first is to not argue with fools using their line of reasoning - you are to avoid descending to their level and appearing foolish yourself.

The second is that a fool does need to be shown that they are in fact being foolish, not wise.

Basically, it says you can point out the fool's error, but take care how you do it.

 

[Marycita]

Ah...that makes sense

thank you very much

 

[letmercylead]

That one used to confuse me too!....

 

[hosea6v6]

Hi! I was wondering if you all could help me with a confusion I can't seem to understand. Does anyone have any insights into the contradiction between proverbs 26:4 and 26:5?

In my version (NLT) :

4 Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation

So...are we supposed to or not?

Basicly the Jedi is correct. Here is how I see it. When you are faced with a person who is playing a fool, it is better just to leave and say nothing. But there are those times that if you say nothing the fool looks to be wise. It is knowing when to say something and when to just walk a way. I find looking dead in the eyes of a fool and slowly turning and walking a way can say a lot more then words.

Hosea6v6

 

[Marycita]

Well thank you very much...this has helped....

 

[arielette]

Interesting question:

The Amplified Bible translates it this way:

4Answer not a [self-confident] fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

5Answer a [self-confident] fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes and conceit.



According to=in a way that exposes his folly?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs 26 ;&version=45;#cen-AMP-17147C

 

[mark kennedy]

I think what it is saying is you should rebuke a fool but not to do it foolishly. My paster tells a story when this comes up about him and a Pizza delivery guy who did something to mess up his pizza. He calls and asks to speak to the manager and the guy just pretends to get the manager and it's still him on the phone. He says it got so bad that they were just calling one another an idiot and his wife who was getting irritated said, 'I think there are two idiots here'.

Grace and peace,
Mark