DON’T BE A FOOL

Passage: Proverbs 26:1-12

Key verse: 12

NIV

26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(K)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(L)
    so fools repeat their folly.(M)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(N)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(O)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

26 Like snow in summer or (A)rain in harvest,
    so (B)honor is (C)not fitting for a fool.
2 Like (D)a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    (E)a curse that is causeless does not alight.
3 (F)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and (G)a rod for the back of fools.
4 (H)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
5 (I)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be (J)wise in his own eyes.
6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and (K)drinks violence.
7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is (L)one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like (M)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like (N)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is (O)a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is (P)wise in his own eyes?
    (Q)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

This passage warns us against fools. When we rely on our sinful nature, we become foolish so quickly. We can’t discern who around us is a fool, nor that their ways will lead to trouble and disaster. Rather, when dealing with foolish people, we should let them receive God’s discipline. We should not stoop down to their level and argue with them. Moreover, don’t choose a foolish person to send an important message, don’t expect a fool to understand wisdom even though you try to teach them, and don’t hire a fool or a drunkard. There are so many ways that we let our guard down and suffer when we rely on fools.

Do you see a man who’s wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Sometimes, we are the most foolish people because we become stuck, and we think we know it all. This was the devil and his angels’ mistake. We should always be growing, learning, repenting, and gaining wisdom to be a better version of what we were yesterday. This protects us from becoming fools with no hope.

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me wisdom to avoid foolish people and their ways. Help me to learn from your words and imitate wise people.

One Word: Don’t rely on fools, nor become foolish