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Proverbs 26:4–5

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest you also be like him.

5 dAnswer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

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Proverbs 26:4–5 — The New International Version (NIV)

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you yourself will be just like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — English Standard Version (ESV)

Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

Answer not a fool according to his folly,

Lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,

or you will become as foolish as they are.

Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,

or they will become wise in their own estimation.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — New Century Version (NCV)

Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,

or you will be just like them.

Answer fools when they speak foolishly,

or they will think they are really wise.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — American Standard Version (ASV)

Answer not a fool according to his folly,

Lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, 

or you will be like him. 

Answer a fool with his own stupidity, 

or he will think he is wise. 

Proverbs 26:4–5 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness

or you’ll be like him yourself.

Answer a fool according to his foolishness

or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Do not answer fools according to their folly,

or you will be a fool yourself.

Answer fools according to their folly,

or they will be wise in their own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Do not answer a fool according to his folly

lest you become like him—even you.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

or else he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with his foolish acts.

If you do, you will be like him yourself.

Answer a foolish person in keeping with his foolish acts.

If you do, he won’t be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4–5 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Or you will also be like him.

Answer a fool as his folly deserves,

That he not be wise in his own eyes.


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