² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,^(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.^(B)

⁴ The soothing tongue^(A) is a tree of life,^(B)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.^(C)

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,^(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply^(A)—
    and how good is a timely word!^(B)

²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,^(A)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.^(B)

²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^[a](A)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.^(B)

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(A)
    and their lips promote instruction.^[a](B)

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,^(A)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^(B)

⁷ Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!^(A)