21 ¹¹ Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts,
and wisdom is the fulfilment of the fear of the Lord.
21 ¹² He who is not clever cannot be taught,
but there is a cleverness which increases bitterness.
21 ¹³ The knowledge of a wise man will increase like a flood,
and his counsel like a flowing spring.
21 ¹⁴ The mind of a fool is like a broken jar;
it will hold no knowledge.

21 ¹⁵ When a man of understanding hears a wise saying,
he will praise it and add to it;
when a reveler hears it, he dislikes it
and casts it behind his back.
21 ¹⁶ A fool's narration is like a burden on a journey,
but delight will be found in the speech of the intelligent.
21 ¹⁷ The utterance of a sensible man will be sought in the assembly,
and they will ponder his words in their minds.

21 ¹⁸ Like a house that has vanished, so is wisdom to a fool;
and the knowledge of the ignorant is unexamined talk.
21 ¹⁹ To a senseless man education is fetters on his feet,
and like manacles on his right hand.
21 ²⁰ A fool raises his voice when he laughs,
but a clever man smiles quietly.
21 ²¹ To a sensible man education is like a golden ornament,
and like a bracelet on the right arm.

21 ²² The foot of a fool rushes into a house,
but a man of experience stands respectfully before it.
21 ²³ A boor peers into the house from the door,
but a cultivated man remains outside.
21 ²⁴ It is ill-mannered for a man to listen at a door,
and a discreet man is grieved by the disgrace.
21 ²⁵ The lips of strangers will speak of these things,
but the words of the prudent will be weighed in the balance.
21 ²⁶ The mind of fools is in their mouth,
but the mouth of wise men is in their mind.
21 ²⁷ When an ungodly man curses his adversary,
he curses his own soul.
21 ²⁸ A whisperer defiles his own soul
and is hated in his neighbourhood.