Those who are wise ¹  store up ²  knowledge, but foolish speech ³  leads to imminent ⁴  destruction.

When words abound, transgression is inevitable, ¹  but the one who restrains ²  his words ³  is wise.

What the righteous say ¹  is like ²  the best ³  silver, but what the wicked think ⁴  is of little value. ⁵ 

The speech ¹  of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, ²  but the one who speaks perversion ³  will be destroyed. ⁴ 

With his speech ¹  the godless person ²  destroys ³  his neighbor, but by knowledge ⁴  the righteous will be delivered.

The evil person is ensnared ¹  by the transgression of his speech, ²  but the righteous person escapes out of trouble. ³ 

From the fruit of his speech ¹  a person eats good things, ²  but the faithless ³  desire ⁴  the fruit of violence. ⁵ 

Speech ¹  that heals ²  is like ³  a life-giving tree, ⁴  but a perverse tongue ⁵  breaks the spirit.

The delight of kings ¹  is righteous counsel, ²  and they love the one who speaks ³  uprightly. ⁴ 

The one who has a perverse heart ¹  does not find good, ²  and the one who is deceitful in speech ³  falls into trouble.

For it is pleasing if ¹  you keep these sayings ²  within you, and ³  they are ready on your lips. ⁴ 

Your eyes will see strange things, ¹  and your mind will speak perverse things.

When ¹  he speaks graciously, ²  do not believe him, ³  for there are seven ⁴  abominations ⁵  within him.

Do you see someone ¹  who is hasty in his words? ²  There is more hope for a fool than for him. ³ 

Just as dreams come when there are many cares, ¹  so ²  the rash vow ³  of a fool occurs ⁴  when there are many words.

The words of a wise person ¹  win him ²  favor, ³  but the words ⁴  of a fool are self-destructive. ⁵ 

captains of groups of fifty, the respected citizens, ¹  advisers and those skilled in magical arts, ²  and those who know incantations.

He will not cry out or shout; he will not publicize himself in the streets. ¹ 

Then I said, “O sovereign Lord! They are saying of me, ‘Does he not simply speak in eloquent figures of speech?’”

And immediately the man’s ¹  ears were opened, his tongue loosened, and he spoke plainly.