Proverbs 26:4

Bible in Basic English (1941)

Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Judg 12:1-6 : 1 Now the men of Ephraim came together and took up arms and went over to Zaphon; and they said to Jephthah, Why did you go over to make war against the children of Ammon without sending for us to go with you? Now we will put your house on fire over you. 2 And Jephthah said to them, I and my people were in danger, and the children of Ammon were very cruel to us, and when I sent for you, you gave me no help against them. 3 So when I saw that there was no help to be had from you, I put my life in my hand and went over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord gave them into my hands: why then have you come up to me this day to make war on me? 4 Then Jephthah got together all the men of Gilead and made war on Ephraim; and the men of Gilead overcame Ephraim. 5 And the Gileadites took the crossing-places of Jordan against the Ephraimites; and when any of the men of Ephraim who had gone in flight said, let me go over; the men of Gilead said to him, Are you an Ephraimite? And if he said, No; 6 Then they said to him, Now say Shibboleth; and he said Sibboleth, and was not able to say it in the right way; then they took him and put him to death at the crossing-places of Jordan; and at that time forty-two thousand Ephraimites were put to death.
  • 2 Sam 19:41-43 : 41 Then the men of Israel came to the king and said, Why have our countrymen of Judah taken you away in secret and come over Jordan with the king and all his family, because all his people are David's men? 42 And all the men of Judah gave this answer to the men of Israel, Because the king is our near relation: why then are you angry about this? have we taken any of the king's food, or has he given us any offering? 43 And in answer to the men of Judah, the men of Israel said, We have ten parts in the king, and we are the first in order of birth: why did you make nothing of us? and were we not the first to make suggestions for getting the king back? And the words of the men of Judah were more violent than the words of the men of Israel.
  • 1 Kgs 12:14 : 14 But giving them the answer put forward by the young men, saying, My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder; my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes.
  • 1 Kgs 12:16 : 16 And when all Israel saw that the king would give no attention to them, the people in answer said to the king, What part have we in David? what is our heritage in the son of Jesse? to your tents, O Israel; now see to your people, David. So Israel went away to their tents.
  • 2 Kgs 14:8-9 : 8 Then Amaziah sent representatives to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us have a meeting face to face. 9 And Jehoash, king of Israel, sent to Amaziah, king of Judah, saying, The thorn-tree in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son for a wife: and a beast from the woodland in Lebanon went by, crushing the thorn under his feet. 10 It is true that you have overcome Edom and your heart is uplifted; let that glory be enough for you, and keep in your country; why do you make causes of trouble, putting yourself, and Judah with you, in danger of downfall?
  • Prov 17:14 : 14 The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
  • Prov 26:5 : 5 Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.
  • Isa 36:21 : 21 But they kept quiet and gave him no answer: for the king's order was, Give him no answer.
  • 1 Pet 2:21-23 : 21 This is God's purpose for you: because Jesus himself underwent punishment for you, giving you an example, so that you might go in his footsteps: 22 Who did no evil, and there was no deceit in his mouth: 23 To sharp words he gave no sharp answer; when he was undergoing pain, no angry word came from his lips; but he put himself into the hands of the judge of righteousness:
  • 1 Pet 3:9 : 9 Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing.
  • Jude 1:9 : 9 Now when Michael, one of the chief angels, was fighting against the Evil One for the body of Moses, fearing to make use of violent words against him, he only said, May the Lord be your judge.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 26:5-12
    8 verses
    93%

    5 Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.

    6 He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is cutting off his feet and drinking in damage.

    7 The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging loose; so is a wise saying in the mouth of the foolish.

    8 Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to keep a stone fixed in a cord.

    9 Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man overcome by drink, so is a wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.

    10 Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink.

    11 Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.

    12 Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise? There is more hope for the foolish than for him.

  • Prov 26:3
    81%

    3 A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.

  • Prov 23:9
    79%

    9 Say nothing in the hearing of a foolish man, for he will put no value on the wisdom of your words.

  • Prov 18:6-7
    2 verses
    76%

    6 A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.

    7 The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    75%

    7 Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge.

    8 The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit.

  • Prov 29:11
    75%

    11 A foolish man lets out all his wrath, but a wise man keeps it back quietly.

  • Prov 26:1
    75%

    1 Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being cut, so honour is not natural for the foolish.

  • Prov 27:22
    75%

    22 Even if a foolish man is crushed with a hammer in a vessel among crushed grain, still his foolish ways will not go from him.

  • Prov 19:10
    75%

    10 Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.

  • Prov 13:16
    74%

    16 A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.

  • Prov 15:5
    74%

    5 A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.

  • Eccl 10:3
    74%

    3 And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.

  • Prov 29:19-20
    2 verses
    74%

    19 A servant will not be trained by words; for though the sense of the words is clear to him, he will not give attention.

    20 Have you seen a man who is quick with his tongue? There is more hope for a foolish man than for him.

  • Eccl 7:9
    74%

    9 Be not quick to let your spirit be angry; because wrath is in the heart of the foolish.

  • Prov 17:12
    74%

    12 It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.

  • Prov 14:3
    74%

    3 In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.

  • Prov 24:7
    74%

    7 Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps his mouth shut in the public place.

  • Prov 12:15-16
    2 verses
    74%

    15 The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the wise man gives ear to suggestions.

    16 A foolish man lets his trouble be openly seen, but a sharp man keeps shame secret.

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    74%

    1 By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.

    2 Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.

  • Prov 18:13
    74%

    13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.

  • Eccl 10:14
    73%

    14 The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?

  • Prov 18:2
    73%

    2 A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.

  • Eccl 7:5
    73%

    5 It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish.

  • Prov 14:16
    73%

    16 The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.

  • Eccl 10:12
    73%

    12 The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.

  • Prov 22:25
    73%

    25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.

  • Prov 17:28
    73%

    28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.

  • Ps 92:6
    73%

    6 A man without sense has no knowledge of this; and a foolish man may not take it in.

  • Prov 17:16
    73%

    16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?

  • Ps 32:9
    73%

    9 Do not be like the horse or the ass, without sense; ...

  • Prov 14:24
    73%

    24 Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise.

  • Prov 17:21
    73%

    21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.

  • Eccl 5:4
    73%

    4 It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it.

  • Prov 20:3
    72%

    3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

  • Prov 29:9
    72%

    9 If a wise man goes to law with a foolish man, he may be angry or laughing, but there will be no rest.

  • Prov 25:8
    72%

    8 Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbour has put you to shame?

  • Prov 16:22
    72%

    22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.

  • Ps 94:8
    72%

    8 Give your mind to my words, you who are without wisdom among the people; you foolish men, when will you be wise?