⁷ ·Fools should not be proud [or It is not right for fools to be good speakers],
and ·rulers [honorable people] should not ·be liars [^Lhave lying lips].

⁹ ·Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend [^LOne who seeks love conceals an offense],
but ·gossiping about the sin [repeating a thing] breaks up friendships.

²⁷ The wise ·say very little [restrain/hold back their talk],
and those with understanding stay ·calm [coolheaded].

²⁸ Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;
if they ·don’t speak [^Lkeep their lips shut], they appear to understand.

⁴ ·Spoken words [^LThe words of a person’s mouth] can be like deep water,
·but [or and] the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.

¹³ Anyone who answers without listening
is foolish and ·confused [or a disgrace].

¹⁷ The person who ·tells one side of [first tells] a story seems right,
until ·someone else [his friend/neighbor] comes and asks questions.

²⁰ ·People will be rewarded for what they say [^LFrom the fruit of the mouth of a person is their stomach satisfied];
·they will be rewarded by how they speak [^Lthe yield/gain of their lips satisfies].

²¹ ·What you say can mean [^LIn the power of the tongue are] life or death.
Those who ·speak with care [love it] will ·be rewarded [^Leat its fruit].

³ Foolish people are always fighting,
but ·avoiding quarrels [backing away from an accusation] will bring you ·honor [glory; praise].

¹¹ Whoever loves pure ·thoughts [^Lhearts] and kind ·words [^Llips]
will have even the king as a friend.

⁹ Don’t speak in the ears of fools [Matt. 7:6];
they will only ·ignore [despise] your ·wise [insightful] words.