Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Parallel translations
- WEB Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- KJV Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
- 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.
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. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
- Matt 16:1–4The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
- Prov 3:7Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
- Titus 1:13This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
- Prov 28:11The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
- John 9:26–33They said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
- Prov 26:12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- John 8:7But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”
- Luke 12:13–21One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
- Prov 26:4Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
- Rom 11:25For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
- Matt 21:23–27When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”
- Luke 13:23–30One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,
- Jer 36:17–18They asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us now, How did you write all these words at his mouth?”
- 1 Kgs 22:24–28Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did Yahweh’s Spirit go from me to speak to you?”
- Isa 5:21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
- Matt 15:1–3Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
- Matt 22:15–32Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.