Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 26:5 in other translations
| BSB | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. |
|---|---|
| WEB | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. |
| ASV | Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit. |
| YLT | Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. |
| DARBY | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. |
| BBE | Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself. |
| Webster | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. |
What does Proverbs 26:5 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 26:4-5
4-5. Answer not--that is, approvingly by like folly.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 26:4-5
We are to fit our remarks to the man, and address them to his conscience, so as may best end the debate.
Proverbs 26:5 in the original Hebrew
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Proverbs 26:5
- Romans 12:16
Be 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.
- Matthew 16:1-4
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
- Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
- Matthew 21:23-27
And 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? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. …
- John 9:26-33
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. …
- Titus 1:13
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
- Luke 12:13-21
And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: …
- Proverbs 28:11
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
- Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
- 1 Kings 22:24-28
But 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? And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. …
- John 8:7
So 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.
- Romans 11:25
For 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.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
- Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
- Proverbs 26:6
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
Proverbs 26:5 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Responde al necio según su necedad, porque no se estime sabio en su opinión. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Réponds au sot selon sa folie, de peur qu’il ne soit sage à ses propres yeux. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Antworte dem Toren nach seiner Narrheit, damit er nicht weise sei in seinen Augen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Responde stulto juxta stultitiam suam, ne sibi sapiens esse videatur. |