³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,^(A)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!^(B)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.^(C)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.^(D)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool^(E)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
⁷ Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^(F)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.^(G)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^(H)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit,^(I)
    so fools repeat their folly.^(J)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?^(K)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.^(L)