⁷ Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.

^9 (A)He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But ^(B)he who repeats a matter separates friends.

^27 (A)He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
^28 (B)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

^4 (A)The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
^(B)The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

¹³ He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.

¹⁷ The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

^20 (A)A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

^21 (B)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

^3 (A)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

^11 (A)He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.

^9 (A)Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.