^16 (A)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

² The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
^(A)But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

^12 (A)The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
But ^(B)the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
¹³ The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is raving madness.
^14 (C)A fool also multiplies words.
No man knows what is to be;
Who can tell him ^(D)what will be after him?

³ Even when a fool walks along the way,
He lacks wisdom,
^(A)And he shows everyone that he is a fool.