Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
flaming arrows of death
is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
Proverbs 26 warns us of the downfalls of being a fool, not just a fool, but a lazy fool with deceitful lips. It also warns us to be careful when it comes to trusting a person who is foolhardy. He or she should not be honored for their ways. They should not be lifted up. It would be foolish for us to enable them to continue in their ways.
What then should we do with the one who acts foolishly? "Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes." (Prov 26:5 NIV) Speak the truth, not rashly or harshly. But, with love; correct them, guide them, teach them the way in which they should go. Teach them to honor and respect others so that others may live pleasant and peaceful lives and not on edge when they are around. Teach them that it is better for everyone to live in peace than to be constantly starting quarrels. It is better to live in peace than to continue instigating division.
There are very few things that bother me more than to hear someone lying to or insulting another person and then when the person responds in a hurt manner, the first person will say "JK," just kidding. Jokes that hurt other people are not funny. They are not jokes! "Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” (Prov 26:18-19)
The wise person will respect others for who they are. They will be kind, not acting out of anger or revenge. But, they will also speak the truth to the one who is acting in a foolish, hurtful manner. They are unable to empathize with anyone other than those who agree with their foolhardiness. Freedom does not give us the right to hurt others. Freedom is given so that we can all live in peace, reconciled to one another. The foolish one does not comprehend this living in peace. They much prefer to cause divisiveness by feeding their foolish egos.
May God be with all the victims and families of the horrible massacre in Las Vegas. May God help us all to learn to empathize with and love one another.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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