5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

or he will be wise in his own eyes.

6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool

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.

8 Like tying a stone in a sling

is the giving of honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and 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 one who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool

Cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

7 The legs of the lame are not equal:

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling,

So is he that giveth honour to a fool.

9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,

or they will become wise in their own estimation.

6 Trusting a fool to convey a message

is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

8 Honoring a fool

is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool

Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling

Is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

5 Answer fools when they speak foolishly,

or they will think they are really wise.

6 Sending a message by a foolish person

is like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.

7 A wise saying spoken by a fool

is as useless as the legs of a crippled person.

8 Giving honor to a foolish person

is like tying a stone in a slingshot.

9 A wise saying spoken by a fool

is like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool

Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.

7 The legs of the lame hang loose;

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As one that bindeth a stone in a sling,

So is he that giveth honor to a fool.

9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh damage. 7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity, 

or he will think he is wise. 

6 Whoever uses a fool to send a message 

cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself. 

7 ⸤Like⸥ a lame person’s limp legs, 

so is a proverb in the mouths of fools. 

8 Like tying a stone to a sling, 

so is giving honor to a fool. 

9 ⸤Like⸥ a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand, 

so is a proverb in the mouths of fools. 

5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness

or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.

6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like lame legs that hang limp.

8 Giving honor to a fool

is like binding a stone in a sling.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like a stick with thorns,

brandished by the hand of a drunkard.

5 Answer fools according to their folly,

or they will be wise in their own eyes.

6 It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence,

to send a message by a fool.

7 The legs of a disabled person hang limp;

so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 It is like binding a stone in a sling

to give honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

or else he will be wise in his own eyes.

6 Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,

so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.

7 Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,

so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like binding a stone in a sling,

so is giving honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,

so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

5 Answer a foolish person in keeping with his foolish acts.

If you do, he won’t be wise in his own eyes.

6 Sending a message in the hand of a foolish person

is like cutting off your feet or drinking something harmful.

7 A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person

is like disabled legs that are useless.

8 Giving honor to a foolish person

is like tying a stone in a slingshot.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a foolish person

is like a thorn in the hand of someone who is drunk.