EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Proverbs 26:5
5If someone asks you a silly question, give him a silly answer. Then he will know that he is not as wise as he thinks he is.
Proverbs 26:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
- New International Version (NIV)Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Context of Proverbs 26:5
3There are right ways to punish a horse or a donkey. The right way to punish a fool is to beat him with a stick. 4If someone asks you a silly question, do not give him a silly answer. Be careful that you do not become as silly as he is. If someone asks you a silly question, give him a silly answer. Then he will know that he is not as wise as he thinks he is. 6If you send a message with a fool, there will be trouble. It would be better to cut off your own feet! 7A lame person cannot use his legs properly. A fool cannot use a proverb properly.
Read all of Proverbs 26Proverbs 26:5 word by word
עֲנֵ֣ה כְ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּן־יִהְיֶ֖ה חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 26:5
- 1 Kings 22:24Then Kenaanah's son Zedekiah went to Micaiah. He hit Micaiah on his face. He asked Micaiah, ‘Do you say that the Lord's spirit has gone away from me and has spoken to you instead? How did he do that?’
- Jeremiah 36:17They also asked Baruch, ‘Please tell us how you wrote all these words. Did Jeremiah himself tell you what to write?’
- Matthew 15:1After that, a group of Pharisees and teachers of God's Law came from Jerusalem to talk to Jesus.
- Matthew 16:1Some Pharisees and Sadducees went to see Jesus. They wanted to test him to see what he would do. They asked him, ‘Do something powerful for us to see. Then we will believe that God has sent you.’
- Matthew 21:23Then Jesus returned to the yard of the temple. While he was teaching the people there, the leaders of the priests and important Jews went to him. They asked him, ‘What authority do you have to do these things? Tell us. Who gave you the authority to do them?’
- Matthew 22:15After the Pharisees heard this, they thought about what they could do. They wanted to ask Jesus difficult questions. They wanted to make him say something wrong about the Roman ruler.
- Luke 12:31Instead, always think about the things that are important in the kingdom of God. Then God will also give you the things that you need each day.
- Luke 13:23One day, somebody asked him, ‘Sir, will God only save a small number of people?’
- John 8:7The Pharisees and the teachers of God's Law continued to ask Jesus questions. So he stood up and he said to them, ‘Any person among you who is not guilty of any sin may throw the first stone to kill her.’
- John 9:26Then they asked him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he make your eyes able to see?’
- Proverbs 26:12Some men think that they are already wise. A fool is more likely to learn something than they are.
- Proverbs 28:11A rich person thinks that he knows everything. But a poor person who understands people knows what he is really like.
- Romans 11:25My Christian friends, I want to help you to understand about Israel's people. It is a secret that God has shown to us. If you really understand it, you will not be proud that you are so clever. Many of Israel's people have refused to believe in Christ. They will continue to refuse him until the complete number of Gentiles have believed.
- Isaiah 5:21It will be very bad for people who think that they are wise. They think that they are very clever.
- Romans 12:16Always try to agree and to be friends with each other. Do not be proud. Be friends with people who are not important. Do not think that you know everything.
Commentaries on Proverbs 26:5
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-5Verses 4-5 We are to fit our remarks to the man, and address them to his conscience, so as may best end the debate.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Proverbs often depend on the situation. Deciding whether to respond to foolish arguments depends on the type of fool and the situation.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. Answer not--that is, approvingly by like folly.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 26:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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