²³ A wise heart produces edifying speech.
It makes a person’s lips more persuasive.
²⁴ Pleasant speech is honey from a honeycomb,
sweet to the spirit and healing for the bones.

²⁷ A worthless scoundrel constantly plots evil,
and from his lips comes a scorching fire.

⁵ Whoever mocks a poor person insults his Maker.
A person who rejoices over calamity will not escape.

⁷ Eloquent lips are^[a] not fitting for a fool.
How much less lying lips for a ruler!

⁹ A person who covers an offense pursues love,
but one who repeats the matter separates friends.

²⁷ A person with knowledge restrains his words.
A person with understanding is even-tempered.
²⁸ Even a stubborn fool who keeps silent will be considered wise.
He is considered to be perceptive if he keeps his lips shut.

⁴ The words from a man’s mouth are deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.

¹³ If a person answers before he listens,
that is foolishness that brings disgrace.

¹⁷ The first person to state his case appears to be right.
Then his neighbor comes and cross-examines him.

²⁰ From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach is satisfied.
He is satisfied with the harvest of his lips.
²¹ Life and death lie in the power of a tongue,
and those who love to use it will eat its fruit.