Proverbs 26:4

NETBible

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 1  lest you yourself also be like him. 2 

NIV ©

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.

NASB ©

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

NLT ©

When arguing with fools, don’t answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.

MSG ©

Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself.

BBE ©

Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.

NRSV ©

Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself.

NKJV ©

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

KJV
Answer
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not a fool
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according to his folly
<0200>_,
lest thou also be like
<07737> (8799)
unto him.
NASB ©
Do not answer
<6030>
a fool
<3684>
according to his folly
<200>
, Or
<6435>
you will also
<1571>
be like
<7737>
him.
LXXM
(33:4) mh
<3165> 
ADV
apokrinou {V-PMD-2S} afroni
<878> 
A-DSM
prov
<4314> 
PREP
thn
<3588> 
T-ASF
ekeinou
<1565> 
D-GSM
afrosunhn
<877> 
N-ASF
ina
<2443> 
CONJ
mh
<3165> 
ADV
omoiov
<3664> 
A-NSM
genh
<1096> 
V-AMS-2S
autw
<846> 
D-DSM
NET [draft] ITL
Do not
<0408>
answer
<06030>
a fool
<03684>
according to his folly
<0200>
, lest
<06435>
you
<0859>
yourself also
<01571>
be like
<07737>
him.
HEBREW
hta
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Mg
<01571>
wl
<0>
hwst
<07737>
Np
<06435>
wtlwak
<0200>
lyok
<03684>
Net
<06030>
la (26:4)
<0408>
NETBible

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 1  lest you yourself also be like him. 2 

NET Notes

1 sn One should not answer a fool’s foolish questions in line with the fool’s mode of reasoning (J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs, 274).

2 sn The person who descends to the level of a fool to argue with him only looks like a fool as well.