Proverbs 26:5

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 28:11 : 11 A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.
  • Matt 16:1-4 : 1 The Demand for a Sign Now when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He said,“When evening comes you say,‘It will be fair weather, because the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning,‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’ You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.
  • Rom 12:16 : 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
  • Titus 1:13 : 13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith
  • Matt 21:23-27 : 23 The Authority of Jesus Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up 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 me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying,“If we say,‘From heaven,’ he will say,‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say,‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus,“We don’t know.” Then he said to them,“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
  • Matt 22:15-32 : 15 Paying Taxes to Caesar Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying,“Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said,“Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 20 Jesus said to them,“Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” 21 They replied,“Caesar’s.” He said to them,“Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away. 23 Marriage and the Resurrection The same day Sadducees(who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, 24 “Teacher, Moses said,‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother. 26 The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 29 Jesus answered them,“You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, 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 The Parable of the Rich Landowner Then someone from the crowd said to him,“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus said to him,“Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” 15 Then he said to them,“Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 He then told them a parable:“The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself,‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said,‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him,‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
  • Luke 13:23-30 : 23 Someone asked him,“Lord, will only a few be saved?” So he said to them, 24 “Exert 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 head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him,‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you,‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say,‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply,‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping 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 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
  • John 8:7 : 7 When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied,“Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.”
  • John 9:26-33 : 26 Then they said to him,“What did he do to you? How did he cause you to see?” 27 He answered,“I told you already and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You people don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?” 28 They heaped insults on him, saying,“You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!” 30 The man replied,“This is a remarkable thing, that you don’t know where he comes from, and yet he caused me to see! 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is devout and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never before has anyone heard of someone causing a man born blind to see. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
  • Rom 11:25 : 25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
  • Isa 5:21 : 21 Beware, those who think they are wise, those who think they possess understanding.
  • Jer 36:17-18 : 17 Then they asked Baruch,“How did you come to write all these words? Do they actually come from Jeremiah’s mouth?” 18 Baruch answered,“Yes, they came from his own mouth. He dictated all these words to me and I wrote them down in ink on this scroll.”
  • Matt 15:1-3 : 1 Breaking Human Traditions Then Pharisees and experts in the law came from Jerusalem to Jesus and said, 2 “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them,“And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
  • 1 Kgs 22:24-28 : 24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said,“Which way did the LORD’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 25 Micaiah replied,“Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.” 26 Then the king of Israel said,“Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son. 27 Say,‘This is what the king says,“Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I safely return.”’” 28 Micaiah said,“If you really do safely return, then the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added,“Take note, all you people.”
  • Prov 3:7 : 7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
  • Prov 26:4 : 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.
  • Prov 26:12 : 12 You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Prov 26:3-4
    2 verses
    93%

    3A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

    4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

  • Prov 26:6-12
    7 verses
    80%

    6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

    7Like legs dangle uselessly from the lame, so a proverb dangles in the mouth of fools.

    8Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.

    9Like a thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, so a proverb has gone up into the mouth of a fool.

    10Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passerby.

    11Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

    12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 12:15-16
    2 verses
    80%

    15The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

    16A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent conceals dishonor.

  • Prov 23:9
    80%

    9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    79%

    7Walk abreast with a foolish person, and you do not understand wise counsel.

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • Prov 13:16
    78%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Eccl 10:3
    78%

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Prov 15:5
    78%

    5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.

  • Prov 29:11
    77%

    11A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

  • Prov 18:6-7
    2 verses
    77%

    6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.

    7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life.

  • Prov 18:2
    77%

    2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

  • Prov 15:2
    76%

    2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.

  • Prov 18:13
    76%

    13The one who gives an answer before he listens– that is his folly and his shame.

  • Eccl 7:5
    76%

    5Frivolous Living Versus Wisdom It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

  • Prov 14:16
    75%

    16A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.

  • Prov 24:7
    75%

    7Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.

  • Prov 17:16
    75%

    16What’s the point of a fool having money in hand to buy wisdom, when his head is empty?

  • Prov 8:5
    75%

    5You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!

  • Prov 14:3
    75%

    3In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

  • Prov 27:22
    75%

    22If you should pound the fool in the mortar among the grain with the pestle, his foolishness would not depart from him.

  • Prov 14:24
    75%

    24The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.

  • Prov 12:23
    75%

    23The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people proclaim folly.

  • Eccl 10:12-13
    2 verses
    75%

    12Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.

    13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,

  • Prov 10:8
    75%

    8The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

  • Prov 15:14
    75%

    14The discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

  • Prov 16:22
    75%

    22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

  • Prov 17:12
    75%

    12It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.

  • Prov 15:21
    75%

    21Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.

  • Prov 17:24
    74%

    24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

  • 1 Cor 3:18
    74%

    18Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.

  • Prov 28:26
    74%

    26The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

  • Prov 29:20
    74%

    20You have seen someone who is hasty in his words– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 19:3
    74%

    3A person’s folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.

  • Prov 19:1
    74%

    1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

  • Prov 9:6
    74%

    6Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”

  • Prov 17:28
    74%

    28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

  • 2 Cor 11:19
    74%

    19For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly.

  • Ps 94:8
    74%

    8Take notice of this, you ignorant people! You fools, when will you ever understand?

  • Prov 29:9
    74%

    9When a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.