²⁷ A worthless person concocts evil gossip^[a]—
    his lips are like a burning fire.

²⁸ A deceitful man stirs dissension,
    and anyone who gossips separates friends.
²⁹ A violent man entices his companion
    and leads him on a path that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks knowingly^[b] is plotting^[c] deceit;
    anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil.

⁴ Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech,
    and the liar listens to malicious talk.

⁹ Anyone who overlooks^[a] an offense promotes love,
    but someone who gossips separates close friends.

¹⁹ The person who loves transgression loves strife;
    the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

²⁰ The person whose mind^[a] is perverse does not find good,
    and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

²⁴ A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
    but a fool looks only^[a] to earthly goals.

² A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

²³ The poor person pleads for mercy,
    but the wealthy man responds harshly.

⁴ Wealth brings many friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

⁶ Many curry favor of an official;
    everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

⁶ Many claim “I’m a loyal person!”^[a]
    but who can find someone who truly is?