Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly, Otherwise you, even you, will be like him. |
Bible Question:
How do you explain this two verses, it seems that they contradict each other. Pr 26:4 ΒΆ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Pr 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. |
Bible Answer: The NIV Bible study notes says: Prov 26:4, 5 These two verses seem to be in contradiction. But the writer is saying that we shouldn't take a foolish person seriously and try to reason with his or her empty arguments. This will only make him or her proud and determined to win the argument. In some situations, you ought not to even try to answer a fool, for there is no way you can penetrate his or her closed mind. You may, in fact, be stooping to that person's level if you do choose to answer. Such a fool will abuse you and you will be tempted to abuse him or her in return. There are other situations where your common sense tells you to answer in order to expose the fool's pride and folly. |
Up | Down View Branch | ID# 73482 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Prov 26:4 | Author | ||
|
Eaglewings 40:31 | ||
|
jlpangilinan | ||
|
Shelly | ||
|
ROGER459 | ||
|
mark d seyler |