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¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
   and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.
¹⁸ It is senseless to give a pledge,
   to become surety for a neighbour.
¹⁹ One who loves transgression loves strife;
   one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.
²⁰ The crooked of mind do not prosper,
   and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.
²¹ The one who begets a fool gets trouble;
   the parent of a fool has no joy.
²² A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
   but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
²³ The wicked accept a concealed bribe
   to pervert the ways of justice.
²⁴ The discerning person looks to wisdom,
   but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.
²⁵ Foolish children are a grief to their father
   and bitterness to her who bore them.
²⁶ To impose a fine on the innocent is not right,
   or to flog the noble for their integrity.
²⁷ One who spares words is knowledgeable;
   one who is cool in spirit has understanding.
²⁸ Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
   when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.

18The one who lives alone is self-indulgent,
   showing contempt for all who have sound judgement.^*
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
   but only in expressing personal opinion.
³ When wickedness comes, contempt comes also;
   and with dishonour comes disgrace.
⁴ The words of the mouth are deep waters;
   the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.
⁵ It is not right to be partial to the guilty,
   or to subvert the innocent in judgement.