4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Focused Passage
Proverbs 26:4
Fools, Sluggards, Quarrels, Gossip, Deceitful Speech, and the Ruin of Unrestrained Folly
The chapter moves from an extended warning about fools, to the self-deception of sluggards, to the danger of meddling and harmful joking, to gossip as conflict fuel, and finally to the concealed malice of lying and flattering speech.
Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources
Study Helps
References and Original Words
Verse 4
Cross-references
Original words
Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb answer תַּ֣עַן H6030 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular a fool כְּ֭סִיל H3684 Noun - masculine singular according to his folly כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ H200 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular or פֶּֽן־ H6435 Conjunction you yourself אָֽתָּה׃ H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular will be like him תִּשְׁוֶה־ H7737 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . לּ֥וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular . . . גַם־ H1571 Conjunction