Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
New American Standard Bible
That he not be
King James Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Holman Bible
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
International Standard Version
Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he will think himself to be wise.
American Standard Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Amplified
Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly,
Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].
Bible in Basic English
Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.
Darby Translation
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Julia Smith Translation
Answer the foolish according to his folly lest he shall be wise in his own eyes.
King James 2000
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Modern King James verseion
Answer a fool according to his foolishness, so that he may not be wise in his own eyes.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
but make the fool an answer to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
NET Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.
New Heart English Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
The Emphasized Bible
Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Webster
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
World English Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Youngs Literal Translation
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Interlinear
Word Count of 20 Translations in Proverbs 26:5
Verse Info
Context Readings
All About Fools
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. 6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, [and] drinks injury.
Cross References
Proverbs 28:11
The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but a poor man who has understanding searches him out.
Matthew 16:1-4
And the Pharisees and Sadducees who came, testing, demanded him to exhibit to them a sign from the sky.
Romans 12:16
thinking the same way toward each other, not thinking on lofty things, but accommodating to the lowly. Become not wise according to yourselves,
1 Kings 22:24-28
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of LORD go from me to speak to thee?
Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.
Proverbs 26:12
See thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.
Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Jeremiah 36:17-18
And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How did thou write all these words at his mouth?
Matthew 15:1-3
Then scholars and Pharisees from Jerusalem come to Jesus, saying,
Matthew 21:23-27
And when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him while he taught, saying, By what authority do thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?
Matthew 22:15-32
Then the Pharisees having departed, they took counsel how they might trap him in his talk.
Luke 12:13-21
And a certain man out of the crowd said to him, Teacher, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with me.
Luke 13:23-30
And a certain man said to him, Lord, are they few who are being saved? And he said to them,
John 8:7
And when they continued asking him, after standing erect, he said to them, Let the innocent man of you first cast the stone at her.
John 9:26-33
But again they said to him, What did he do to thee? How did he open thine eyes?
Romans 11:25
For I do not want you, brothers, to be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise according to yourselves, that a callousness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles come in.
Titus 1:13
This testimony is true, because of which reason, reprove them harshly, so that they may be sound in the faith,