15 A gentle answer turns away anger,^(A)
but a harsh word stirs up wrath.^(B)

¹⁸ A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict,^(A)
but a man slow to anger^(B) calms strife.

³² Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s temper,^[a] than capturing a city.^(A)

17 Better a dry crust with peace
than a house full of feasting with strife.^(A)

¹⁴ To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out.^(A)

¹⁹ One who loves to offend loves strife;^(A)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

²⁷ The intelligent person restrains his words,^(A)
and one who keeps a cool head^[a]
is a man of understanding.

¹⁸ Casting the lot^(A) ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to reach^[a]
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

¹¹ A person’s insight gives him patience,^(A)
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.^(B)

¹² A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,^(C)
but his favor is like dew on the grass.^(D)