^4 (A)Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you yourself also be like him.
^5 (B)Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be ^(C)wise in his own eyes.

¹⁷ Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and becomes passionate about ^(A)strife not belonging to him.

²⁰ With no wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no ^(A)whisperer, ^(B)strife quiets down.
²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a ^(C)contentious man to kindle strife.

²² An ^(A)angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

³³ For pressing milk brings forth butter,
And pressing the nose brings forth blood;
And pressing ^(A)anger brings forth strife.