Proverbs 26:4
Don't answer stupid people following their stupidity, or you'll become as bad as them.
Free Bible Version
In The King James Version
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
In Context
3Horses need a whip, donkeys need a bridle, and stupid people need a rod on their backs!
5Answer stupid people following their stupidity, otherwise they'll think they're wise.
Cross References
Judges 12:1Then the Ephraimites were called up and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go and fight the Ammonites without summoning us to go with you? We're going to burn your house down with you inside it!”
1 Kings 12:14he replied using the advice of the young men. He said, “My father placed a heavy burden on you, and I will make it even heavier. My father punished you with whips; I will punish you with scorpions.”
2 Kings 14:8Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel, Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, telling him, “Let's fight, face to face!”
Proverbs 26:5Answer stupid people following their stupidity, otherwise they'll think they're wise.
1 Peter 2:21In fact this is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example, so you should follow in his footsteps.
Jude 1:9Even the archangel Michael, when he was arguing with the devil over Moses' body, didn't dare to condemn him with a slanderous insult, but said, “May the Lord rebuke 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 →