²⁶ He ^[a]kisseth the lips
Who giveth a right answer.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive,
^[a]Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself,
^[b]And disclose not the secret of another;
¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it revile thee,
And thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word ^[a]fitly spoken
Is like apples of gold in network of silver.
¹² As ^[b]an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
So is a faithful messenger to them that send him;
For he refresheth the soul of his masters.
¹⁴ As clouds and wind without rain,
So is he that boasteth himself ^[c]of his gifts falsely.
¹⁵ By long forbearing is a ^[d]ruler persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

²⁰ As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda,
So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest thou also be like unto him.
⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in ^[a]his own conceit.

^17 [a]He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ As a madman who casteth firebrands,
Arrows, and death,
¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,
And saith, Am not I in sport?

²³ He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor
Than he that flattereth with the tongue.

²⁰ Seest thou a man that is hasty in his ^[a]words?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.