Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. New Living Translation Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. English Standard Version Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Berean Standard Bible Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. King James Bible Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. New King James Version Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. New American Standard Bible Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, Or you will also be like him. NASB 1995 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. NASB 1977 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Legacy Standard Bible Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you yourself also be like him. Amplified Bible Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly, Otherwise you, even you, will be like him. Christian Standard Bible Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness or you’ll be like him yourself. Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness or you’ll be like him yourself. American Standard Version Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. Contemporary English Version Don't make a fool of yourself by answering a fool. English Revised Version Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. GOD'S WORD® Translation Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him. Good News Translation If you answer a silly question, you are just as silly as the person who asked it. International Standard Version Don't answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will be just like him. Majority Standard Bible Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. NET Bible Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him. New Heart English Bible Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Webster's Bible Translation Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him. World English Bible Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionDo not answer a fool according to his folly, "" Lest you are like to him—even you. Young's Literal Translation Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou. Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not answer the foolish according to his folly lest thou shalt be like to him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnswer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him. Catholic Public Domain Version Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him. New American Bible Do not answer fools according to their folly, lest you too become like them. New Revised Standard Version Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnswer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be also like him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Do not give answer to a fool according to his foolishness, lest you also be like him. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. Brenton Septuagint Translation Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Similitudes and Instructions…3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.… Cross References Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Ecclesiastes 3:7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 2 Timothy 2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution. Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Proverbs 9:7-8 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. / Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” Proverbs 14:7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. Proverbs 23:9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Proverbs 17:12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. Treasury of Scripture Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like to him. Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. Judges 12:1-6 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire… 2 Samuel 19:41-43 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? … Jump to Previous Folly Fool FoolishJump to Next Folly Fool FoolishProverbs 26 1. observations about fools13. about sluggards 17. and about contentious busybodies Do not answer The phrase "do not answer" is a directive that suggests restraint and wisdom in communication. In the Hebrew text, the word used here is "עֲנֵה" (aneh), which means to respond or reply. This instruction implies a conscious decision to refrain from engaging in certain types of discourse. Historically, this reflects the wisdom tradition in ancient Israel, where discernment in speech was highly valued. The emphasis is on the importance of self-control and the avoidance of unnecessary conflict. a fool according to his folly or you yourself will be like him According to his folly.--Do not lower yourself by disputing or arguing with him; he will not take in your meaning, and will think he has got the better of you, perhaps will insult you. It is noticeable that our Lord never answered a question which should not have been asked Him, but always put it by (e.g., Matthew 21:23, sqq.; Luke 13:23-24; Luke 23:9; John 21:21-22; Acts 1:6, sqq.). . . . Verse 4. - Answer not a fool according to his folly. Do not lower yourself to the fool's level by answering his silly questions or arguing with him as if he were a sensible man. Lest thou also be like unto him; lest you be led to utter folly yourself or to side with him in his opinions and practices. Our blessed Saviour never responded to foolish and captious questions in the way that the questioner hoped and desired, he put them by or gave an unexpected turn to them which silenced the adversary. Instances may be seen in Matthew 21:23, etc.; Matthew 22:21, 22; Luke 13:23, etc.; John 21:21, etc.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not answer תַּ֣עַן (ta·‘an) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond a fool כְּ֭סִיל (kə·sîl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool according to his folly, כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ (kə·’iw·wal·tōw) Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 200: Silliness or פֶּֽן־ (pen-) Conjunction Strong's 6435: Removal, lest you yourself אָֽתָּה׃ (’āt·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you will be like him. תִּשְׁוֶה־ (tiš·weh-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7737: To level, equalize, to resemble, to adjust Links Proverbs 26:4 NIVProverbs 26:4 NLT Proverbs 26:4 ESV Proverbs 26:4 NASB Proverbs 26:4 KJV Proverbs 26:4 BibleApps.com Proverbs 26:4 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 26:4 Chinese Bible Proverbs 26:4 French Bible Proverbs 26:4 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 26:4 Don't answer a fool according to his (Prov. Pro Pr) |
    |