Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, || Lest you are like to him—even you.
Literal Standard 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, a bridle for a donkey, || And a rod for the back of fools.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, || Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
Cross References
Judges 12:1And the men of Ephraim are called together, and pass over northward, and say to Jephthah, “Why have you passed over to fight against the sons of Ammon, and have not called on us to go with you? We burn your house with fire over you.”
1 Kings 12:14and speaks to them, according to the counsel of the boys, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, and I discipline you with scorpions”;
2 Kings 14:8then Amaziah has sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, we look one another in the face.”
Proverbs 26:5Answer a fool according to his folly, || Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
1 Peter 2:21for to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving to you an example, that you may follow His steps,
Jude 1:9yet Michael, the chief messenger, when disputing with the Devil, reasoning about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring against [him] a judgment of slander, but said, “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 →