6  Hear, for I will speak ^unoble things,

and from my lips will come ^vwhat is right,

7  for my ^wmouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8  All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing ^xtwisted or crooked in them.

9  They are all ^ystraight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

10  ^zTake my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11  ^afor wisdom is better than jewels,

and ^ball that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12  “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

and I find knowledge and ^cdiscretion.

13  ^dThe fear of the Lord is ^ehatred of evil.

^fPride and arrogance and the way of evil

and ^gperverted speech I hate.

14  I have ^hcounsel and ⁱsound wisdom;

I have insight; ^jI have strength.

1  ^dA soft answer turns away wrath,

but ^ea harsh word stirs up anger.

2  The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but ^fthe mouths of fools pour out folly.

3  ^gThe eyes of the Lord are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4  ^hA gentle¹ tongue is ⁱa tree of life,

but ^jperverseness in it breaks the spirit.

25  ⁿAnxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.

1  ^aBetter is a poor person who ^bwalks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

4  ^bAnswer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.