19. He who loves transgression loves strife: and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20. He that has a crooked heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21. He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
22. A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
23. A wicked man takes a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.
24. Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26. Also, to punish the just is not good, nor to flog princes for their integrity.
27. He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28. Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.