16  How much better to get wisdom than ^xgold!

To get ^yunderstanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17  The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18  ^zPride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19  It is better to be of a ^alowly spirit with the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20  Whoever gives thought to the word¹ will discover good,

and ^bblessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

21  The wise of heart is called discerning,

and ^csweetness of speech ^dincreases persuasiveness.

22  Good sense ^eis a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23  The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24  ^fGracious words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

25  ^gThere is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is ^hthe way to death.²

26  A worker’s appetite works for him;

ⁱhis mouth urges him on.

27  A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech³ is ^jlike a scorching fire.

28  A dishonest man spreads strife,

and ^ka whisperer separates close friends.

29  A man of violence ^lentices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

30  Whoever ^mwinks his eyes plans⁴ dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31  ⁿGray hair is ^oa crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

32  Whoever is ^pslow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33  ^qThe lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.