Verse 5

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 28:11 : 11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with understanding will see right through him.
  • Matt 16:1-4 : 1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and, testing Him, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 In the morning, you say, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and overcast.' Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, yet you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet." Then He left them and went away.
  • Rom 12:16 : 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
  • Titus 1:13 : 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply so that they may be sound in the faith,
  • Matt 21:23-27 : 23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?' 24 Jesus answered them, 'I will also ask you one question. If you answer it for me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?' They discussed it among themselves, saying, 'If we say, 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet. 27 So they answered Jesus, 'We do not know.' Then he said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'
  • Matt 22:15-32 : 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might trap him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth. You do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you do not look at people’s appearances.' 17 Tell us, then, what you think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 18 But Jesus, perceiving their malice, said, 'Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.' So they brought him a denarius. 20 And he said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this? 21 They said, 'Caesar’s.' Then he said to them, 'Therefore, give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.' 22 When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away. 23 That same day, the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and questioned him, 24 saying, 'Teacher, Moses said: If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.' 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third, and so on through all seven. 27 Last of all, the woman died too. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her as a wife.' 29 Jesus answered them, 'You are mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven.' 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'
  • Luke 12:13-21 : 13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me as a judge or arbiter over you?" 15 Then He said to them, "Watch out, and be on guard against every form of greed, because one’s life is not defined by the abundance of possessions." 16 And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a certain rich man produced a bountiful harvest. 17 And he thought to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry.”' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your soul will be required of you, and the things you have prepared—who will they belong to?' 21 So it is with one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
  • Luke 13:23-30 : 23 Someone asked him, 'Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?' He said to them, 24 'Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, 'I don’t know you or where you come from.' 26 'Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 'But he will reply, 'I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from the east, west, north, and south, and they will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.
  • John 8:7 : 7 When they kept pressing him for an answer, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
  • John 9:26-33 : 26 Then they asked him, 'What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?' 27 He replied, 'I already told you, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?' 28 They ridiculed him and said, 'You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!' 29 'We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.' 30 The man answered, 'This is remarkable! You do not know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes!' 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to them. 32 Never before in history has it been heard that someone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything.
  • Rom 11:25 : 25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not become conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
  • Isa 5:21 : 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!
  • Jer 36:17-18 : 17 Then they asked Baruch, "Tell us, how did you write all these words? Did Jeremiah dictate to you?" 18 Baruch answered them, "Jeremiah dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them down with ink on the scroll."
  • Matt 15:1-3 : 1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” 3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
  • 1 Kgs 22:24-28 : 24 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah on the cheek and demanded, 'Which way did the spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?' 25 Micaiah replied, 'You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room.' 26 Then the king of Israel ordered, 'Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son.' 27 And say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water of affliction until I return safely.’ 28 Micaiah said, 'If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.' Then he added, 'Pay attention, all you people!'
  • Prov 3:7 : 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
  • Prov 26:4 : 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him yourself.
  • Prov 26:12 : 12 Do you see a person who is wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.