15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,^[a]
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

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

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the minds of fools.

²³ To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and a word in season, how good it is!

²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    the words of the pure are pleasing to him.^[a]