Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26: More Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.).

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison. Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. 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. Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.

God does not want us to deal with a fool. To answer a fool, to address his folly, is to be just like him. God instructs us to not trust a fool to deliver a message. A message should be delivered by someone you can entrust with the message or it is wasted. God doesn't want us to be wise in our own eyes because there is more hope for a fool than for the person who is wise in their own eyes. God warns us about rushing into a quarrel, especially one that isn't your own, and adding fuel to a quarrel in the form of gossip. We are to be peaceful and patient like Jesus. God warns us our enemies will disguise themselves, they will seem charming, but will hold deceit and wickedness in their hearts.