Proverbs 26:4
Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
In Context
3A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.
5Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.
Cross References
Judges 12:1Now the men of Ephraim came together and took up arms and went over to Zaphon; and they said to Jephthah, Why did you go over to make war against the children of Ammon without sending for us to go with you? Now we will put your house on fire over you.
1 Kings 12:14But giving them the answer put forward by the young men, saying, My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder; my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes.
2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent representatives to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us have a meeting face to face.
Proverbs 26:5Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.
1 Peter 2:21This is God's purpose for you: because Jesus himself underwent punishment for you, giving you an example, so that you might go in his footsteps:
Jude 1:9Now when Michael, one of the chief angels, was fighting against the Evil One for the body of Moses, fearing to make use of violent words against him, he only said, May the Lord be your judge.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:4
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Here, 1. Wicked men are compared to the horse and the ass, so brutish are they, so unreasonable, so unruly, and not to be governed but by force or fear, so low has sin sunk men, so much below themselves. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt, but as some by the grace of God are changed, and become rational, so others by custom in sin are hardened, and become more and more sottish, as the horse and the mule, Ps. xxxii. 9 . 2.… Read the whole commentary →