Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Ver. 4. Answer not a fool according to his folly.] When either he curseth thee, as Pro 26:2 or cryeth out upon thee for giving him due correction Pro 26:3 - for every public person had need to carry a spare handkerchief, to wipe off the dirt of disgrace and obloquy cast upon him for doing his duty, - pass such a one by in silence, as not worthy the answering. Sile, et funestam dedisti plagam, say nothing, and you play him to purpose. a Hezekiah would not answer Rabshakeh, nor Jeremiah Hananiah; Jer 28:11 nor our Saviour his adversaries. Mat 26:62 Joh 19:9 He reviled not his revilers, he threatened not his open opposites. 1Pe 2:23
Lest thou also be like unto him.] As hot and as headlong as he; for a little thing kindles us, and we are apt to think that we have reason to be mad, if evil entreated; to talk as fast for ourselves as he doth against us, and to give him as good as he brings; so that at length there will be never a wiser of the two, and people will say so.
a Chrysost.