Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Proverbs 26:5

NETBible	Answer a fool according to his folly,¹ lest he be wise in his own estimation.²
NIV © biblegateway Pro 26:5	Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
NASB © biblegateway Pro 26:5	Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
NLT © biblegateway Pro 26:5	When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
MSG © biblegateway Pro 26:5	Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn't get a swelled head.
BBE © SABDAweb Pro 26:5	Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem wise to himself.
NRSV © bibleoremus Pro 26:5	Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.
NKJV © biblegateway Pro 26:5	Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
[+] More English


KJV	Answer <06030> (8798) a fool <03684> according to his folly <0200>_, lest he be wise <02450> in his own conceit <05869>_. {conceit: Heb. eyes}
NASB © biblegateway Pro 26:5	Answer <06030> a fool <03684> as his folly <0200> deserves, That he not be wise <02450> in his own eyes <05869> .
LXXM	(33:5) alla <235> CONJ apokrinou {V-PMD-2S} afroni <878> A-DSM kata <2596> PREP thn <3588> T-ASF afrosunhn <877> N-ASF autou <846> D-GSM ina <2443> CONJ mh <3165> ADV fainhtai <5316> V-PMS-3S sofov <4680> A-NSM par <3844> PREP eautw <1438> D-DSM
NET [draft] ITL	Answer <06030> a fool <03684> according to his folly <0200> , lest <06435> he be <01961> wise <02450> in his own estimation <05869> .
HEBREW	wynyeb <05869> Mkx <02450> hyhy <01961> Np <06435> wtlwak <0200> lyok <03684> hne (26:5) <06030>

NETBible

Answer a fool according to his folly,¹ lest he be wise in his own estimation.²

NET Notes

¹sn 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).

²tn Heb “in his own eyes” (so NAB, NASB, NIV).