¹⁷ The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.^(A)

¹⁸ Casting the lot^(B) ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to reach^[a]
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰ From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.^(C)

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

²² A man who finds a wife finds a good thing^(E)
and obtains favor from the Lord.^(F)

²³ The poor person pleads,^(G)
but the rich one answers roughly.^(H)

²⁴ One with many friends may be harmed,^[b]
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.^(I)

19 Better a poor person who lives with integrity^(A)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

² Even zeal is not good without knowledge,^(B)
and the one who acts hastily^[a] sins.^(C)