Foolishness is Out of Place...

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

    so honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

    a curse that is causeless does not alight.

3 

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

    and a rod for the back of fools.

4 

Answer not a fool according to his folly,

    lest you be like him yourself.

5 

Answer a fool according to his folly,

    lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 

Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

    cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 

Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,

    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 

Like one who binds the stone in the sling

    is one who gives honor to a fool.

9 

Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 

Like an archer who wounds everyone

    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

11 

Like a dog that returns to his vomit

    is a fool who repeats his folly.

12 

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:1-12

There is something just not right with the fool.  You can see it in his/her action, and hear it in his/her words: using profanity that makes no sense, arguing one's case with logic that is illogical, twisting the words of other, taking truths out of context, using entrusted authority to hurt others - both intentionally and not, always thinking he/she is right when nothing could be further from the truth. All of this is unacceptable.  We should not accept it - not only in other, but especially from ourselves.  It is out of place - all the more in the people of God.