New Living Translation
Proverbs 26:5
5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
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
3Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back! 4Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation. 6Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! 7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
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 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. “Since when did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” he demanded.
- Jeremiah 36:17“But first, tell us how you got these messages. Did they come directly from Jeremiah?”
- Matthew 15:1Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him,
- Matthew 16:1One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
- Matthew 21:23When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”
- Matthew 22:15Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.
- Luke 12:31Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
- Luke 13:23Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied,
- John 8:7They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
- John 9:26“But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?”
- Proverbs 26:12There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.
- Proverbs 28:11Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.
- Romans 11:25I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.
- Isaiah 5:21What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.
- Romans 12:16Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
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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Commentaries