It is singularly inappropriate to honour fools, yet if we look at our society we can see many examples of fools being lauded.
An undeserved curse will not come to rest. Shimei (the stone thrower) wrongly cursed David to no effect (2 Sam 16:8,12). We need to remember this, for as we live in an increasingly unchristian and anti-Christian society one of the tactics of the enemy is to make false accusations and false charges. They will come to nothing.
Force is the only way to make fools go in the right direction.
Verses 4 and 5 are fantastic, for at face value they are completely contradictory. However, those who claim that these are contradictory only demonstrate that they themselves are fools! Proverbs is not a set of rules, it is wisdom. There are times when it is best to ignore fools, for answering them will only make us partake in their foolishness. At other times we should answer them, showing the self-contradiction in their foolish arguments. Wisdom is knowing when to take which line.
In fact the whole of the first twelve verses are laying into fools. The fools we have about are not just idiots but include many so-called sophisticated and learned people.
Next up for attack are sluggards, the lazy.
The chapter finishes with several proverbs concerning the deceitful tongue. God speaks only truth, and with a word He brought the universe into being. Satan is the father of lies, and a key element of our falleness is a proliferation of lies and falsehood.
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