12. “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love coverall all sins.” Such is the difference between ‘hatred and love, that where all things are in quiet, hatred raises up disturbance and makes men quarrel about trifles; when love pacifies the minds of those that it finds provoked by real offenses, and composes all those contentions, for which there was too much occasion.
13. “In the lips of him that Birth understanding wisdom is pun& but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.” He that would be wise must seek the acquaintance of some intelligent person: but the most knowing person in the world cannot make him wise that is void of consideration; who will never learn, unless perhaps by some great affliction.
14. “Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” Wise men treasure up knowledge, and reserve it till a fitting opportunity to make use of it: but a fool is always talking, and seldom opens his mouth but that it proves a present mischief to himself or others.
15. “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.” Riches are a powerful] defense to their owners against a great many evils, to which we are subject in this life; and naturally raise men’s minds and make them confident: whereas poverty exposes men to injuries and abuses; and is apt to depress and deject their spirits.
16. “The labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.” Which is a great motive to an honest diligence; but then remember this, that the end of a virtuous man’s labors after riches is only that he may provide himself the necessaries of life, and that he may do good with them: but the great revenues, which perhaps are left to a wicked man by his ancestors without any pains of his own, are employed to satisfy his sinful lusts and passions.
17. “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” He that carefully observes, and puts men in mind of these wholesome admonitions, which may teach them to correct and amend their lives, is in the way to make himself and others happy: but he that leaves off to give reproof encourages men in their errors; from which he, who shuns those that are wont to reprehend him, is never like to be reclaimed.
18. “He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.” He that dissembleth his hatred, by great professions of friendship before one’s face, and then goes and vents it in slanders behind his back, may seem a cunning man; but is really an impious fool.
19. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Nor are calumny and flattery the only vices of the tongue; but much speaking is rarely innocent: therefore he that is sparing of his words, and considers well both when, and where, and what he speaks, is a truly prudent person.
20. “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is Mile worth.” The words of such a man are exceeding valuable; because they are both solid and sincere: but let wicked men devise and study what they please, it will be good for little, or rather very mischievous.
21. “The lips of the righteous: feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.” Many are preserved from perishing by the discourses of a good man: but a fool, for want of consideration, receives no benefit by them, and doth not so much as take care to save himself.