10. Have you heard a word against your neighbor? Let it die within you, trusting that it will not burst forth from you.
11. Before the face of a word, a foolish man labors, like a woman groaning as she gives birth to a child.
12. Like an arrow fixed in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word in the heart of a foolish man.
13. Correct a friend, though perhaps there was a misunderstanding, and he may say, "I did not do it." Or, if he did do it, correct him, so that he may not do it again.
14. Correct your neighbor, for perhaps he did not say it. But if he did say it, correct him, so that he may not say it again.
15. Correct your friend. For often a fault has been committed.
16. And do not believe every word. There is one who slips with his word, but not with his heart.
17. For who is there who has not offended with his words? Correct your neighbor before you reprimand him.
18. And make a place for the fear of the Most High. For all wisdom is fear of God, and it is wise to fear God, and in all wisdom is the orderly disposition of the law.
19. But the discipline of wickedness is not wisdom. And there is no prudence in the thoughts of sinners.
20. There is a wickedness, and in it there is abomination. And there is a foolish man who has been diminished in wisdom.
21. Better is a man who has been diminished in wisdom because his mind is failing, but with the fear of God, than he who abounds in intelligence, but with transgression against the law of the Most High.
22. There is a certain cleverness, and it is unjust.
23. And there is one who utters a careful word, explaining away the truth. There is one who humbles himself wickedly, for his interior is filled with deceit.
24. And there is one who lowers himself excessively with a great debasement. And there is one who inclines his face downward, and pretends as if he did not see what has not been made known.
25. And if he is prevented from sinning by a lack of ability, and then finds an opportunity for evildoing, he will do evil.
26. A man is recognized by his appearances. But when you meet an understanding man, he is recognized by his face.