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

¹⁸ A wrathful man stirs up strife,
    but he who is slow to anger appeases strife.

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

17 Better is a dry morsel with quietness
    than a house full of sacrifices with strife.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water;
    therefore abandon contention before a quarrel starts.