⁴ An ^(A)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A ^[a]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

^7 [a](A)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are ^(B)lying lips to a prince.

²⁰ He who has a crooked ^[a]mind ^(A)finds no good,
And he who is ^(B)perverted in his language falls into evil.

²⁷ He who ^(A)restrains his words ^[a]has knowledge,
And he who has a ^(B)cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool, when he ^(C)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.