4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.