⁵ A truthful witness does not lie,
but a false witness tells nothing but lies.

15 A ·gentle [soft; tender] answer ·will calm a person’s anger [^Lturns back/^Taway wrath],
but an ·unkind [painful; sharp] answer ·will cause more [raises] anger.

² Wise people use knowledge when they speak,
but fools ·pour out [bubble forth with] foolishness.

⁴ ·As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life [^LA healthy/healing tongue is a tree of life],
but ·dishonest [deceitful; perverse] words crush the spirit.

⁷ Wise people use their ·words [^Llips] to ·spread [scatter; disperse] knowledge,
but there is no knowledge in the ·thoughts [hearts; minds] of fools.

²³ People enjoy giving ·good advice [^La right reply].
Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing.

²⁶ The Lord ·hates [detests] evil ·thoughts [or plans]
but ·is pleased with kind words [^Lpleasing words are pure].

²⁸ ·Good people [^LThe heart/mind of the righteous] ·think [reflect; meditate] before they answer,
but the wicked simply ·pour [blurt] out evil.

16 People may make plans in their ·minds [hearts],
but ·only the Lord can make them come true [^Lfrom the Lord comes a responding tongue].

¹⁰ The words of a king are like a ·message from God [oracle],
so ·his decisions should be fair [^Lhe should not betray justice with his mouth].

¹³ Kings ·like [favor] ·honest people [^Lrighteous lips];
they ·value [love] ·someone who speaks the truth [^Lthose who speak with integrity].