Proverbs 26:3-13

English Standard Version

^3 (A)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and ^(B)a rod for the back of fools.
^4 (C)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
^5 (D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be ^(E)wise in his own eyes.
⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and ^(F)drinks violence.
⁷ Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
⁸ Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is ^(G)one who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like ^(H)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.^[a]
11 Like ^(I)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is ^(J)a fool who repeats his folly.
¹² Do you see a man who is ^(K)wise in his own eyes?
    ^(L)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
^13 (M)The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”