# Proverbs 26.4-5

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**Book:** [Proverbs](/codex/proverbs/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 2. As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not. 3. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
>
> **4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.**
>
> 6. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage. 7. The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools. (Proverbs 26:2-7, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 2. Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest. 3. A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
>
> **4. Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.**
>
> 6. One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence. 7. Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. (Proverbs 26:2-7, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 2. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. 3. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
>
> **4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. <sup>conceit: Heb. eyes</sup>**
>
> 6. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. <sup>damage: or, violence</sup> 7. The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. <sup>are: Heb. are lifted up</sup> (Proverbs 26:2-7, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 2. As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come. 3. A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
>
> **4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him, even thou. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.**
>
> 6. He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool. 7. Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools. (Proverbs 26:2-7, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Solomon (principal); Agur; Lemuel; wise men
- **Audience:** young Israelite men in the wisdom tradition
- **Location:** Israel, Solomonic court
- **Time period:** principal composition c. 970-930 BC (Solomon); compilation c. 700 BC (Hezekiah)

## Theological reading

## Key words

_No Strong's-tagged lexicon matches found in this passage. (Lexicon coverage is curated, ~159 of the most apologetically-loaded Greek/Hebrew terms.)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Laws of Logic](/codex/laws-of-logic/)

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