15  With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and ^da soft tongue will break a bone.

16  If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

17  ^eLet your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

18  A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19  Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

20  ^fWhoever ^gsings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

21  ^hIf your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22  for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23  The north wind brings forth rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24  ⁱIt is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

25  Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is ^jgood news from a far country.

26  Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27  It is not good to eat much honey,

^knor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.¹

28  A man without self-control

is like a city broken into and left without walls.