² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,^(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.^(B)

²³ The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,^(A)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.^(B)

²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,^(A)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.^(B)

¹⁶ All who are prudent act with^[a] knowledge,
    but fools expose^(A) their folly.^(B)

¹² Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,^(A)
    but fools are consumed by their own lips.^(B)
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
    at the end they are wicked madness—

⁴ The Sovereign Lord^(A) has given me a well-instructed tongue,^(B)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.^(C)
He wakens me morning by morning,^(D)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.^(E)

¹¹ Like apples^[a] of gold in settings of silver^(A)
    is a ruling rightly given.
¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.^(B)

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(A)
    and their lips promote instruction.^[a](B)

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply^(A)—
    and how good is a timely word!^(B)