SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:5
Responde al loco mostrándole su locura, para que no se estime sabio en su opinión.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly , etc.] The Targum is, “but speak with a fool in thy wisdom;” and the Syriac version, “yea, speak with a fool according to thy wisdom;” which would at once remove the seeming contradiction in these words to the former, but then they are not a true version; indeed it is right, and must be the sense, that when a fool is answered, as it is sometimes necessary he should, that it be done in wisdom, and so as to expose his folly; he is to be answered and not answered according to different times, places, and circumstances, and manner of answering; he is to be answered when there is any hope of doing him good, or of doing good to others; or of preventing ill impressions being made upon others by what he has said; when the glory of God, the good of the church, and the cause of truth, require it; and when he would otherwise glory and triumph, as if his words or works were unanswerable, as follow; lest he be wise in his own conceit ; which fools are apt to be, and the rather when no answer is given them; imagining it arises from the strength of their arguments, and their nervous way of reasoning, when it is rather from a neglect and contempt of them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4, 5 - We are to fit our remarks to the man, and address them to his conscience, so as may best end the debate.
Original Hebrew
ענה 6030 כסיל 3684 כאולתו 200 פן 6435 יהיה 1961 חכם 2450 בעיניו׃ 5869
