Daily Audio Proverb

Proverbs 26:4-5
I am reading my daily proverbs and come across these 2 verses that contradict themselves. I know that there is meaning behind them and why they say the exact opposite but am having a hard time finding an answer. Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Monjoe

4. Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.

5. Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation
David Mongiovi 05/27/2010 10:18

Replies:
Andy Hardin 05/27/2010 13:16
I found this article kind of helped me understand the contradiction.
http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/17146/eVerseID/17147

I particularly liked this suggested reading of the verses:

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him. [But on the other hand,] answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes."

David Mongiovi 05/27/2010 14:37
Andy,
Thanks, that made a lot of sense. I also like the way that they rephrased the 2 verses. I also liked the last paragraph, it added a great deal to understanding what God truly meant:

"When Donald Trump mistakenly got into a name-calling contest with Rosie O'Donnell, it gave her a fallacious, elevated estimation of her debating abilities, deluding her into a false sense of importance and wisdom, and at the same time, it artificially boosted the ratings of The View. Fred Thompson, on the other hand, when asked to debate the merits of "universal" health care with Michael Moore, who lauds Fidel Castro's system in Cuba, made it clear that he would not lower himself to Moore's foolishness."


Alexandria 06/01/2010 21:13
it actually makes me understand God a little better