⁷ The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare^(A) to their very lives.^(B)

⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.^(C)

⁹ One who is slack in his work
    is brother to one who destroys.^(D)

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;^(E)
    the righteous run to it and are safe.^(F)

¹¹ The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;^(G)
    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

¹² Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.^(H)

¹³ To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.^(I)

¹⁴ The human spirit can endure in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?^(J)

¹⁵ The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,^(K)
    for the ears of the wise seek it out.

¹⁶ A gift^(L) opens the way
    and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.