"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him." — Proverbs 26:4

Proverbs 26:4 · KJV

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”

— Proverbs 26:4

Verse 3

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Verse 5

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. {conceit: Heb. eyes}

Proverbs 26 — Context

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. {conceit: Heb. eyes}

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, {and} drinketh damage. {damage: or, violence}

Cross References

Proverbs 26:5

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. {conceit: Heb. eyes}

1 Peter 3:9

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Jude 1:9

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Proverbs 17:14

The beginning of strife {is as} when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

1 Kings 12:14

And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father {also} chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

2 Samuel 19:41-43

And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

Judges 12:1-6

And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. {gathered...: Heb. were called}

1 Kings 12:16

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither {have we} inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.