⁴ Do not say, ‘I sinned, yet what has happened to me?’
    for the Lord is slow to anger.
⁵ Do not be so confident of forgiveness^[a]
    that you add sin to sin.
⁶ Do not say, ‘His mercy is great,
    he will forgive^[b] the multitude of my sins’,
for both mercy and wrath are with him,
    and his anger will rest on sinners.
⁷ Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,
    and do not postpone it from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come upon you,
    and at the time of punishment you will perish.
⁸ Do not depend on dishonest wealth,
    for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.

⁹ Do not winnow in every wind,
    or follow every path.^[c]
10 Stand firm for what you know,
    and let your speech be consistent.
¹¹ Be quick to hear,
    but deliberate in answering.
¹² If you know what to say, answer your neighbour;
    but if not, put your hand over your mouth.

¹³ Honour and dishonour come from speaking,
    and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall.
¹⁴ Do not be called double-tongued^[d]
    and do not lay traps with your tongue;
for shame comes to the thief,
    and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.
¹⁵ In great and small matters cause no harm,^[e]