4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you yourself will be just like him.

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.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

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.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

Lest thou also be like unto him.

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.

4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,

or you will become as foolish as they are.

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!

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest you also be like him.

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.

4 Don’t answer fools when they speak foolishly,

or you will be just like them.

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.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

Lest thou also be like unto him.

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.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 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.

4 Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, 

or you will be like him. 

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. 

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness

or you’ll be like him yourself.

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.

4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,

or you will be a fool yourself.

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.

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly

lest you become like him—even you.

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.

4 Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with his foolish acts.

If you do, you will be like him yourself.

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.