Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Parallel translations
- WEB Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- BSB Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
- NKJV Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- NASB Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be wise in his own eyes.
- NLT Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Sometimes you must answer a fool, lest he think himself wise. Folly occasionally needs to be confronted directly.
Overview
Placed right after verse 4, this proverb's seeming contradiction is intentional, teaching that wisdom must discern when to answer and when not to. Here a fool must be corrected so he is not confirmed in self-conceit. The pair shows that applying truth requires judgment about the situation, not a rigid formula.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Rom 12:16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
- Matt 16:1–4The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
- Prov 3:7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
- Titus 1:13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
- Prov 28:11The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
- John 9:26–33Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
- Prov 26:12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
- John 8:7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
- Luke 12:13–21And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
- Prov 26:4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
- Rom 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
- Matt 21:23–27And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
- Luke 13:23–30Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
- Jer 36:17–18And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
- 1 Kgs 22:24–28But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
- Isa 5:21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
- Matt 15:1–3Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
- Matt 22:15–32Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 26:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.