¹² Let a ^(A)person meet a ^(B)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his foolishness.

^4 (A)Do not answer a fool ^[a]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
^5 (B)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be ^(C)wise in his own eyes.
⁶ One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
⁷ Like ^[b]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
⁸ Like ^[c]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like a thorn that ^[d]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
^10 [e]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
¹¹ Like ^(D)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who ^(E)repeats ^[f]his foolishness.

²² Though you ^(A)pound the fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
His foolishness still will not leave him.

⁹ When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person,
^[a]The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.