24. Before there’s a fire,a furnace has vapor and smoke;so before bloodshed there are insults.
25. I won’t be ashamed to shelter friends,and I won’t hide from them.
26. And if something bad happens to mebecause of them,everyone who hears of itwill be on guard against them.
27. Who will put a guard on my mouthand an effective seal upon my lipsso that I don’t fallbecause of my speechand so that my tonguedoesn’t destroy me?