15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The wage of the righteous is for life, The increase of the wrong is for sin.
17 He who heeds discipline is in the way of life, But he who refuses reproof goes astray.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips, And he who sends out a slander is a fool.
19 When words are many, Transgression is not absent, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wrong is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous shepherd many, But fools die for lack of heart.