15 A ^(A)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a ^[a](B)harsh word stirs up anger.

¹⁸ A ^(A)hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the ^(B)slow to anger ^(C)quiets a dispute.

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.

17 ^(A)Better is a dry morsel and tranquility with it
Than a house full of ^[a]feasting with strife.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So ^(A)abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

¹⁹ He who ^(A)loves transgression loves quarreling;
He who ^(B)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.

²⁷ He who ^(A)holds back his words ^[a]has knowledge,
And he who has a ^(B)cool spirit is a man of discernment.

¹⁸ The cast ^(A)lot puts an end to contentions
And ^[a]decides between the mighty ones.
¹⁹ A brother offended is harder to win over than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.