15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but grievous words stir up anger.

² The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright,
    but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.

⁴ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it crushes the spirit.

⁷ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
    but the heart of the foolish does not do so.

²³ A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
    and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but the words of the pure are pleasant words.