Proverbs 26:4

New International Reader's Version

Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts. If you do, you yourself will be just like them.

Cross References

1 Kings 12:14

Instead, he followed the advice of the young men. He said, “My father put a heavy load on your shoulders. But I’ll make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips. But I’ll beat you with bigger whips.”

1 Kings 12:16

All the Israelites saw that the king refused to listen to them. So they answered the king. They said, “We don’t have any share in David’s royal family. We don’t have any share in Jesse’s son. People of Israel, let’s go back to our homes. David’s royal family, take care of your own kingdom!” So the Israelites went home.

Proverbs 17:14

Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam. So drop the matter before a fight breaks out.

Proverbs 23:9

Don’t speak to foolish people. They will laugh at your wise words.

Proverbs 26:5

Answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts. If you do not, they will be wise in their own eyes.

Proverbs 29:9

Suppose a wise person goes to court with a foolish person. Then the foolish person gets mad and pokes fun, and there is no peace.

Isaiah 36:21

But the people remained silent. They didn’t say anything. That’s because King Hezekiah had commanded, “Don’t answer him.”

Matthew 7:6

“Do not give holy things to dogs. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they might walk all over them. They might turn around and tear you to pieces.

1 Peter 3:9

Don’t pay back evil with evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay back evil with kind words. This is what you have been chosen to do. You will receive a blessing by doing this.

Jude 1:9

But even Michael, the leader of the angels, didn’t dare to say these things. He didn’t even say these things when he argued with the devil about the body of Moses. Michael didn’t dare to judge the devil. He didn’t say the devil was guilty of saying evil things. Instead, Michael said, “May the Lord judge you!”