² Wise words will win you a good meal,
    but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

¹⁴ Wise words bring many benefits,
    and hard work brings rewards.

²⁰ Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
    the right words bring satisfaction.

¹¹ The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain;
    the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

³¹ Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
    choking on their own schemes.

¹¹ Don’t let liars prosper here in our land.
    Cause great disasters to fall on the violent.

¹⁷ They eat the food of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence!

¹¹ They may say, “Come and join us.
    Let’s hide and kill someone!
    Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
¹² Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave^[a];
    let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
¹³ Think of the great things we’ll get!
    We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.

⁶ Since they shed the blood
    of your holy people and your prophets,
you have given them blood to drink.
    It is their just reward.”

¹⁷ You cut down the forests of Lebanon.
    Now you will be cut down.
You destroyed the wild animals,
    so now their terror will be yours.
You committed murder throughout the countryside
    and filled the towns with violence.