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

¹² A wise ·warning [correction] to ·someone who will listen [^La listening ear]
is as valuable as gold earrings or fine gold jewelry.

⁵ It is better to correct someone ·openly [publicly]
than to have love and ·not show [hide] it.

⁶ The ·slap [bruises] of a friend can be trusted to help you,
but the kisses of an enemy are ·nothing but lies [or dangerous; Matt. 26:48–50].

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
so people ·can improve each other [sharpen their friends].

29 Whoever is ·stubborn [^Lstiff-necked] after being corrected many times
will suddenly be ·hurt [broken] beyond ·cure [healing].