Taming Our Tempers And Our Tongues

¹ A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A gentle^[a] tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
⁵ A fool despises his father's instruction,
    but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the hearts of fools.^[b]
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.