Proverbs 26:5
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Footnotes
- 8 The apparent contradiction with the last verse has troubled commentators for some time. The Rabbis solved it by saying that v. 4 referred to secular things, but v. 5 referred to sacred or religious controversies. While this does not resolve the issue, it does give a sound application for the two verses together—in negligible issues one should just ignore the stupid person, but in issues that matter the fool must be dealt with, lest credence be given to what he says (W. G. Plaut, Proverbs, 266). The text presents two proverbs each of which presents an aspect of the whole truth. One should not lower himself to the level of the fool, but there are times when the lesser of two evils is to do so, other than let the fool gain confidence that he is a wise person or be considered wise by others. Paul, for example, talked like a “fool” to correct the foolish ideas of the Corinthians (2 Cor 11:16–17; 12:11).
- 9 Heb “in his own eyes” (so , , ).
The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press
In other versions
ESVEnglish Standard Version
Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles
NIVNew International Version (2011)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.
CSBChristian Standard Bible
Answer a fool according to his foolishness
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
NLTNew Living Translation
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
LEBThe Lexham English Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly,
or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Copyright 2012 Lexham Press
KJV 1900King James Version
Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Public Domain