Other translations
American Standard Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But speak with a fool according to your wisdom lest he think in his soul that he is wise.
Darby Bible Translation
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Holy Bible: Douay-Rheims Version (Genuine Leather Black)
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
ERV 1885 English Revised Version with Strong's Concordance
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
English Standard Version Journaling Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
God's Word
Answer a fool with his own stupidity, or he will think he is wise.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he'll become wise in his own eyes.
International Standard Version
Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he will think himself to be wise.
NET Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.
New American Standard Bible
Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
New International Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
New Living Translation
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Webster's Bible Translation
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
The World English Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
EasyEnglish Bible
If someone asks you a silly question, give him a silly answer. Then he will know that he is not as wise as he thinks he is.
Young‘s Literal Translation
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
New Life Version
Answer a fool in the way he has earned by his foolish acts, so he will not be wise in his own eyes.
The Voice Bible
Rather, answer a fool on his own foolish terms, or he will become wise in his own eyes.
Living Bible
When arguing with a rebel, don’t use foolish arguments as he does, or you will become as foolish as he is! Prick his conceit with silly replies!
New Catholic Bible
Reply to a fool in the terms of his folly or he will consider himself wise.
Legacy Standard Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Jubilee Bible 2000
Answer the fool showing him his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Christian Standard Bible
Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
Amplified Bible © 1954
Answer a [self-confident] fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes and conceit.
New Century Version
Answer fools when they speak foolishly, or they will think they are really wise.
The Message
Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn’t get a swelled head.
Evangelical Heritage Version ™
Answer a fool according to his folly. If you do not, he will consider himself wise.
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.
Good News Translation®
Give a silly answer to a silly question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as smart as he thinks.
Wycliffe Bible
Answer thou (to) a fool after his folly, lest he seem to himself to be wise (lest he thinketh himself to be wise).
Contemporary English Version
But if you answer any fools, show how foolish they are, so they won't feel smart.
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Answer fools according to their folly, lest they be wise in their own eyes.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition
Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.
Common English Bible © 2011
Answer fools according to their folly, or they will deem themselves wise.
Amplified Bible © 2015
Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly, Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].
English Standard Version Anglicised
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Answer fools according to their folly, lest they become wise in their own eyes.
New American Standard Bible
Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be wise in his own eyes.
The Expanded Bible
Answer fools when they speak foolishly, or they will ·think they are really wise [L be wise in their own eyes; C a wise person must read the situation to know whether to answer or not].
Tree of Life Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, else he will be wise in his own eyes.
Revised Standard Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
New International Reader's Version
Answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts. If you do not, they will be wise in their own eyes.
BRG Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Complete Jewish Bible
but answer a fool as his folly deserves, so that he won’t think he is wise.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Answer a kesil (fool) according to his folly, lest he be chacham in his own eyes.
Names of God Bible
Answer a fool with his own stupidity, or he will think he is wise.
Modern English Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Easy-to-Read Version
There is no good way to answer fools when they say something stupid. If you answer them, then you, too, will look like a fool. If you don’t answer them, they will think they are smart.
International Children’s Bible
But answer a foolish person as he should be answered. If you don’t, he will think he is really wise.
Lexham English Bible
Answer a fool according to his folly, or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
New International Version - UK
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.