20. He who has a wayward and crooked mind finds no good, and he who has a willful and contrary tongue will fall into calamity. [James 3:8.]
21. He who becomes the parent of a [self-confident] fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of [an empty-headed] fool has no joy [in him].
22. A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. [Prov. 12:25; 15:13, 15.]
23. A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom (pocket) to pervert the ways of justice.
24. A man of understanding sets skillful and godly Wisdom before his face, but the eyes of a [self-confident] fool are on the ends of the earth.
25. A self-confident and foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26. Also, to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.
27. He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit. [James 1:19.]
28. Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding.