Amsal 26:4

26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, ¹ 

lest you yourself also be like him. ² 

Amsal 3:7

3:7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; ³ 

fear the Lord and turn away from evil. ⁴ 

¹ sn One should not answer a fool’s foolish questions in line with the fool’s mode of reasoning (J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs, 274).

² sn The person who descends to the level of a fool to argue with him only looks like a fool as well.

³ tn Heb “in your own eyes” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.”

⁴ sn The second colon clarifies the first. If one fears the Lord and turns away from evil, then he is depending on the Lord and not wise in his own eyes. There is a higher source of wisdom than human insight.