To answer or Not Answer...

[joyousNOISErecords]

I was just wondering if anyone had any wisdom on these two verses:

Proverbs 26:4 = Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.


Proverbs 26:5 = Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

It's telling you to do one thing then to do another...

So do you answer a fool or not? haha
What is God trying to say here?

 

[NavyGuy7]

Maybe something to do with the translation? Like maybe by "his folly" in the first one it means not to "stoop to their level", but in the second means, "to correct"?

 

[TimRout]

It is a translation issue. In their desire to be faithful to the Hebrew text (which is a good thing), the translators of the NIV failed to render the intent of the passage (which is not a good thing). In my opinion, the exceptionally literal New American Standard Bible does a better job presenting these verses.

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, lest he be wise in his own eyes." [Proverbs 26:4-5/NASB]

 

[NorrinRadd]

My two favorite verses!

Many moons ago, I heard a CMA pastor suggest that maybe they were saying, "Pray you don't meet a fool!"

I think the "real" key, in keeping with what TimRout noted, is to keep watch on your own motivation and attitude when deciding whether or not to "answer" (confront).

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

It is a translation issue. In their desire to be faithful to the Hebrew text (which is a good thing), the translators of the NIV failed to render the intent of the passage (which is not a good thing). In my opinion, the exceptionally literal New American Standard Bible does a better job presenting these verses.

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, lest he be wise in his own eyes." [Proverbs 26:4-5/NASB]

Young's LT also appears to follow the Hebrew well on that. The first 2 verses are word-for-word as it is in the Hebrew using a Hebrew/English interlinear. This is how I check a lot of translations.

http://www.scripture4all.org/

Proverbs 16:4 Must-not_thou-are-answering one-stupid as-folly-of-him lest_thou-shall-be-equal to-him, even_thou
5 answer-thou! one-stupid as-folly-of-him lest_he-shall-become wise in-eyes-of-him

(Young) Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him--even thou. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

 

[joyousNOISErecords]

thank you all for your responses!!

I didn't even think to take translation into consideration. It makes more sense now, and thanks little lamb of jesus for that site.

 

[Crazy Liz]

This is wisdom literature. It is intended to make you think about why two opposites might both be wise. Each choice has an advantage and a disadvantage.

Although the English translations treat the verb "answer" as an imperative, in Hebrew, it is in the imperfect tense, which can also be translated as a future or present indicative: "You will not answer a fool..." or "You do not answer a fool..." The "lest" or "else" comparing the two verbs in each sentence can function to make the first one conditional, so I expected the LXX to translate the first verb as a subjunctive, but was surprised to see it used an imperfect. The Greek imperfect and the Hebrew imperfect are not the same. The Greek imperfect (at least in the indicative mood) is more like the English imperfect, "You were not answering a fool..."

Anyway, neither saying is actually a command. Rather, both are statements of the likely consequences of choosing to answer or not answer. The wise person anticipates the consequences before deciding whether to answer or not.

 

[joyousNOISErecords]

The wise person anticipates the consequences before deciding whether to answer or not.

that makes sense to me!

But I don't quite understand all the analysis of the languages. How do you guys know all this? have you guys gone to school for theology? for translating Greek? Hebrew?

I'm just an undergrad at California State University - Northridge going for a bachelor of arts in music. So I like to lead worship, but I still think all this theology is pretty interesting... but is going over my head. haha

 

[Crazy Liz]

that makes sense to me!

But I don't quite understand all the analysis of the languages. How do you guys know all this? have you guys gone to school for theology? for translating Greek? Hebrew?

I'm just an undergrad at California State University - Northridge going for a bachelor of arts in music. So I like to lead worship, but I still think all this theology is pretty interesting... but is going over my head. haha

Yeah, that takes time & study. I'm in my 50s & only about 8 units away from my MDiv., so yeah, I've studied a lot.

Keep on studying.

 

[TimRout]

that makes sense to me!

But I don't quite understand all the analysis of the languages. How do you guys know all this? have you guys gone to school for theology? for translating Greek? Hebrew?

I'm just an undergrad at California State University - Northridge going for a bachelor of arts in music. So I like to lead worship, but I still think all this theology is pretty interesting... but is going over my head. haha

I have a ThM, and yes -- we spend a fair bit of time studying the languages.

 

[plmarquette]

flys who check out "fly paper" get stuck for some time....

which is the context of the verses .... let others think you have a few loose screws, rather than opening your mouth and proving their case for them