7  The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the hearts of fools.¹

14  The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

20  ^uA wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21  Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of ^vunderstanding walks straight ahead.

24  The path of life leads upward for the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.