²³ The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful
    and enhances the teaching of their lips.
²⁴ Pleasant words are flowing honey,
    sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.

²⁷ Worthless people dig up trouble;
    their lips are like a scorching fire.

⁵ Those who mock the poor insult their maker;
    those who rejoice in disaster won’t go unpunished.

⁷ Too much talking isn’t right for a fool;
    even less so false speech for an honorable person.

⁹ One who seeks love conceals an offense,
    but one who repeats it divides friends.

²⁷ Wise are those who restrain their talking;
    people with understanding are coolheaded.
²⁸ Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise;
    those who shut their lips are smart.

⁴ The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,
    a bubbling stream, a fountain of wisdom.

¹³ Those who answer before they listen
    are foolish and disgraceful.

¹⁷ The first person to testify seems innocent,
    until the other comes and cross-examines him.

²⁰ The stomach is satisfied
by the fruit of the mouth;
    one’s lips can earn a satisfying income.
²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
    those who love it will eat its fruit.