Proverbs 26:5
If you give a foolish answer to someone who asks a foolish question, he will realize that he is ◄not very wise/foolish►.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
In Context
Cross References
Proverbs 3:7Do not be proud of being wise. Instead, revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.
Proverbs 26:12God can help/bless foolish people more easily than he can help/bless people who are not wise [RHQ], but think that they are wise.
Isaiah 5:21Terrible things will happen to those who think that they are wise and that they ◄are very clever/know everything►.
Matthew 15:1Then some Pharisees and men who taught the Jewish laws came from Jerusalem to talk to Jesus. They said,
Matthew 21:23After that, Jesus went into the Temple courtyard. While he was teaching the people, the chief priests and the elders of the Jewish Council approached him. They asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who authorized you to do what you did here yesterday [DOU]?”
Luke 12:13Then one of the people in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my older brother to divide my father’s property and give me the part that belongs to 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 →