² Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.

²³ A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of foolish men makes clear their foolish thoughts.

²⁸ The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.

¹⁶ A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.

⁴ The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are experienced, so that I may be able to give the word a special sense for the feeble: every morning my ear is open to his teaching, like those who are experienced:

¹² The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.

¹³ The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.

¹¹ A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.

¹² Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.

²³ The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.

²³ A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!

⁷ See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it?

¹ <To the chief music-maker; put to Shoshannim. Of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves.> My heart is flowing over with good things; my words are of that which I have made for a king; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.