Proverbs 26:5
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Catholic Public Domain Version
In The King James Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
In Context
4Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
6Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
Cross References
Proverbs 3:7Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
Proverbs 26:12Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
Isaiah 5:21Woe to you who are wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your own sight!
Matthew 15:1Then the scribes and the Pharisees came to him from Jerusalem, saying:
Matthew 21:23And when he had arrived at the temple, as he was teaching, the leaders of the priests and the elders of the people approached him, saying: “By what authority do you do these things? And who has given this authority to you?”
Luke 12:13And someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:5-6
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. See here the noble security of the scripture-style, which seems to contradict itself, but really does not. Wise men have need to be directed how to deal with fools; and they have never more need of wisdom than in dealing with such, to know when to keep silence and when to speak, for there may be a time for both. 1. In some cases a wise man will not set his wit to… Read the whole commentary →