Proverbs 26:4
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Catholic Public Domain Version
In The King James Version
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
In Context
3A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
5Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Cross References
Judges 12:1And behold, a sedition rose up in Ephraim. Then, while passing by toward the north, they said to Jephthah: “When you were going to fight against the sons of Ammon, why were you unwilling to summon us, so that we might go with you? Therefore, we will burn down your house.”
1 Kings 12:14And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying: “My father weighed down your yoke, but I will add more to your yoke. My father cut you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.”
2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying: “Come, and let us see one another.”
Proverbs 26:5Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
1 Peter 2:21For you have been called to this because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in his footsteps.
Jude 1:9When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring against him a judgment of blasphemy, so instead he said: “The Lord commands you.”
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 →