Overview
(NET) The proverbs in these lines differ from the earlier ones in that these are multiple line sayings using more similes; chapters 28–29 are similar to 10–16, but chapters 25–27 differ in having few references to God.
26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you yourself also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own opinion.
according to his folly (NET) One should not answer a fool’s foolish questions in line with the fool’s mode of reasoning
lest you yourself also be like him (NET) The person who descends to the level of a fool to argue with him only looks like a fool as well.
(NET) The text presents two proverbs each of which presents an aspect of the whole truth. One should not lower himself to the level of the fool, but there are times when the lesser of two evils is to do so, other than let the fool gain confidence that he is a wise person or be considered wise by others. Paul, for example, talked like a “fool” to correct the foolish ideas of the Corinthians (2 Cor 11:16–17; 12:11).
(BKC) These two sayings belong together; they complement each other. Their point is that one should not be drawn down to a fool’s level (v. 4) but at times he must use the fool’s language to refute the fool so he does not become conceited (v. 5; cf. vv. 12, 16). Wisdom is needed to determine when to apply verse 4 and when to apply verse 5
Summary and reflection: If I put these 2 verses together,
(1) when we choose to answer a fool, using their reasoning is a must if we want to talk him out of his fool;
Do I have enough patient and understanding to do so? No matter how foolish the other person seems to be, can I use their reasoning to talk to them?
(2) A fool is a wise in his own opinion, unless you help them;
Do I want to leave them in their current condition? Why not? Can I stand people to be like that? If this is for my own good (lest I use their reasoning) them I need to learn to tolerate them.
(3) When we choose not to answer it is for our own good, so that we will not reason like them.
Do I have wisdom to stop talking?
27: 14 If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.
(NET) The point of the proverb is that loud and untimely greetings are not appreciated. What was given as a “blessing” will be considered a “curse”—the two words being antonyms. The proverb makes the point that how, when, and why they say what they say is important too (D. Kidner, Proverbs [TOTC], 166).
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day—
a contentious wife makes herself like that.
16 Whoever contains her has contained the wind
or can grasp oil with his right hand.
(NET) A contentious woman is uncontrollable. The wind can gust at any moment; so too the contentious woman can nag or complain without warning. If anyone can hide the wind he can hide her.
(BKC) Dripping water pictures the irritating nature of a quarrelsome wife (cf. 19:13 and comments there). Like water dripping on a rainy day, she is annoying and never stops quarreling. She is as impossible to restrain as the wind. Trying to constrain her contentious spirit is as impossible as trying to pick up a handful of oil. She is both unsteady and slippery.
Summary and reflection: Who would like a continual dripping? No one. Therefore you would like to control the situation, but the nature of the person do not let you to do so. However frustrated is the husband to have a wife like that. There is nothing he can do. The one way is to resolve this is either God changes her, or she realizes her own problem and asks God to help her to change. Am I like her?
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