This chapter has a few themes, but the silliness of fools stood out to me:
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” Proverbs 26:4-5 NIV
At my first read, I thought these verses were like commands for us and that they contradicted one another. Then I realized that they were scenarios of dealing with a fool, and in that situation you cannot win – they will spin it the way they want to and they are right no matter what you do or say.
Lock Your Wings 
I thought the same thing! “Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.”
Proverbs 26:4-5 NLT
I think that we do have the obligation to question a ‘fool’ but we become the fool if we engage in their foolishness.
These verses also stood out for me:
“An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.”
Proverbs 26:10, 20 NLT
So true. Also the fire of quarrels also goes out when you don’t engage- see verse 4&5
“If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.”
Proverbs 26:27 NLT
Revenge appears to be sweet but reality differs. It’s so much better to let God handle justice.
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