8 A gang of cynics can upset a whole city;a group of sages can calm everyone down.
9 A sage trying to work things out with a foolgets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.
10 Murderers hate honest people;moral folks encourage them.
11 A fool lets it all hang out;a sage quietly mulls it over.
12 When a leader listens to malicious gossip,all the workers get infected with evil.
13 The poor and their abusers have at least something in common:they can both see—their sight, God’s gift!
14 Leadership gains authority and respectwhen the voiceless poor are treated fairly.