15 A gentle answer turns away anger,^(A)
but a harsh word stirs up wrath.^(B)

¹⁸ A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,^(A)
but one slow to anger^(B) calms strife.

³² Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions,^[a] than capturing a city.^(A)

17 Better a dry crust with peace
than a house full of feasting with strife.^(A)

¹⁴ To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out.^(A)