⁹ Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.^(A)

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.^(A)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.^(B)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool^(C)
    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.^(D)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.^(E)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^(F)
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,^(G)
    so fools repeat their folly.^(H)