⁴ Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or you will be just like them.

⁵ Answer fools when they speak foolishly,
or they will ·think they are really wise [^Lbe wise in their own eyes; ^Ca wise person must read the situation to know whether to answer or not].

¹⁷ Interfering in ·someone else’s quarrel as you pass by [or a fight not your own]
is like grabbing a dog by the ears [^Las it passes by; ^Cthe idea of passing by can go with either line].

²⁰ Without wood, a fire ·will go out [is extinguished],
and without gossip, ·quarreling will stop [conflict calms down].

²¹ Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going,
a quarrelsome person ·keeps an argument going [kindles accusations].

²² An angry person ·causes trouble [stirs up conflict];
a person with ·a quick temper [wrath] sins a lot.