Proverbs 26:3–5
Proverbs 26:3–5 — The New International Version (NIV)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,
and a fool with a rod to his back!
4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.
5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
3 A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — New Century Version (NCV)
3 Whips are for horses, and harnesses are for donkeys,
so paddles are good for fools.
4 Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or you will be just like them.
5 Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will think they are really wise.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — American Standard Version (ASV)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
3 A whip is for the horse,
a bridle is for the donkey,
and a rod is for the backs of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or you will be like him.
5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or he will think he is wise.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools.
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness
or you’ll be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,
or you will be a fool yourself.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will be wise in their own eyes.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly
lest you become like him—even you.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
3 A whip is for a horse. A harness is for a donkey.
And a beating is for the backs of foolish people.
4 Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with his foolish acts.
If you do, you will be like him yourself.
5 Answer a foolish person in keeping with his foolish acts.
If you do, he won’t be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:3–5 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.