16. Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,Since he has no heart for it?
17. A friend loves at all times,And a brother is born for adversity.
18. A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,And becomes surety for his friend.
19. He who loves transgression loves strife,And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20. He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
21. He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,And the father of a fool has no joy.
22. A merry heart does good, like medicine,But a broken spirit dries the bones.
23. A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the backTo pervert the ways of justice.
24. Wisdom is in the sight of him who 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 who bore him.
26. Also, to punish the righteous is not good,Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.