Proverbs 26:4

King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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.

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

  • 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 esence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

    8 The wisdom of the udent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

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

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

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

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

  • 16 Every udent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

  • 5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reoof is udent.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

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

  • 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of ide: but the lips of the wise shall eserve them.

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

  • 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 esently known: but a udent 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.

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

  • 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 16 Wherefore is there a ice in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

  • 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.

  • 24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

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

  • 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.

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

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

  • 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.

  • 22 Understanding is a wellsing of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

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