Verses 4-5 form a unit in which verse 5 appears to contradict what is said in verse 4. Some take this to be a play on words, in which the same words have a different sense in each of the two verses. Others see it as a paradox, which they explain by suggesting that the two ways of dealing with the fool may be appropriate in different circumstances.

“Answer not a fool according to his folly”: “According to his folly” is literally “like his folly.” This verse is a warning, either against taking a fool at his own estimation and giving him a serious reply, or perhaps against speaking to a fool in the same foolish way as he has spoken to you. By doing so you share in his foolishness.

“Lest you be like him yourself”: This line emphasizes the second person pronoun and states the consequence of doing what is referred to in the previous line. Scott says “Lest you put yourself on his [the fool’s] level.” Contemporary English Version puts this line first by saying “Don’t make a fool of yourself by answering a fool.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .