Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Darby Translation
In The King James Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
In Context
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Cross References
Proverbs 3:7Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
Proverbs 26:12Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Isaiah 5:21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and intelligent in their own esteem!
Matthew 15:1Then the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem come up to Jesus, saying,
Matthew 21:23And when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him [as he was] teaching, saying, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
Luke 12:13And a person said to him out of the crowd, Teacher, speak to my brother to divide 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 →