Proverbs 26:4

Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Judg 12:1-6 : 1 ¶ 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. 2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands. 3 And when I saw that ye delivered [me] not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me? 4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites [are] fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, [and] among the Manassites. 5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was [so], that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, [Art] thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; 6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce [it] right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
  • 2 Sam 19:41-43 : 41 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? 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's [cost]? or hath he given us any gift? 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right] in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
  • 1 Kgs 12:14 : 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.
  • 1 Kgs 12:16 : 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.
  • 2 Kgs 14:8-9 : 8 ¶ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. 9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that [was] in Lebanon sent to the cedar that [was] in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. 10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory [of this], and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to [thy] hurt, that thou shouldest fall, [even] thou, and Judah with thee?
  • Prov 17:14 : 14 ¶ The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
  • Prov 26:5 : 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
  • Isa 36:21 : 21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
  • 1 Pet 2:21-23 : 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:
  • 1 Pet 3:9 : 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 : 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.

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 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

    6 ¶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.

    7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.

    8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.

    9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.

    10 ¶ The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

    11 ¶ As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.

    12 ¶ Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.

  • Prov 26:3
    81%

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

  • Prov 23:9
    79%

    9 ¶ Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

  • Prov 18:6-7
    2 verses
    76%

    6 ¶ A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

    7 A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul.

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    75%

    7 ¶ Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.

    8 ¶ The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.

  • Prov 29:11
    75%

    11 ¶ A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise [man] keepeth it in till afterwards.

  • Prov 26:1
    75%

    1 ¶ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

  • Prov 27:22
    75%

    22 ¶ Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, [yet] will not his foolishness depart from him.

  • Prov 19:10
    75%

    10 ¶ Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

  • Prov 13:16
    74%

    16 ¶ Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open [his] folly.

  • Prov 15:5
    74%

    5 ¶ A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

  • Eccl 10:3
    74%

    3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool.

  • Prov 29:19-20
    2 verses
    74%

    19 ¶ A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

    20 ¶ Seest thou a man [that is] hasty in his words? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.

  • Eccl 7:9
    74%

    9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

  • Prov 17:12
    74%

    12 ¶ Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

  • Prov 14:3
    74%

    3 ¶ In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

  • Prov 24:7
    74%

    7 ¶ Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

  • Prov 12:15-16
    2 verses
    74%

    15 ¶ The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise.

    16 ¶ A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent [man] covereth shame.

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    74%

    1 ¶ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

    2 ¶ The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

  • Prov 18:13
    74%

    13 ¶ He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto him.

  • Eccl 10:14
    73%

    14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

  • Prov 18:2
    73%

    2 ¶ A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

  • Eccl 7:5
    73%

    5 [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

  • Prov 14:16
    73%

    16 ¶ A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

  • Eccl 10:12
    73%

    12 ¶ The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

  • Prov 22:25
    73%

    25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

  • Prov 17:28
    73%

    28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.

  • Ps 92:6
    73%

    6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

  • Prov 17:16
    73%

    16 ¶ Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?

  • Ps 32:9
    73%

    9 Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

  • Prov 14:24
    73%

    24 ¶ The crown of the wise [is] their riches: [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly.

  • Prov 17:21
    73%

    21 ¶ He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

  • Eccl 5:4
    73%

    4 ¶ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for [he hath] no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

  • Prov 20:3
    72%

    3 ¶ [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

  • Prov 29:9
    72%

    9 ¶ [If] a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, [there is] no rest.

  • Prov 25:8
    72%

    8 ¶ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

  • Prov 16:22
    72%

    22 ¶ Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.

  • Ps 94:8
    72%

    8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and [ye] fools, when will ye be wise?