37 ¹⁶ Reason is the beginning of every work,
and counsel precedes every undertaking.
37 ¹⁷ As a clue to changes of heart
37 ¹⁸ four turns of fortune appear, good and evil, life and death;
and it is the tongue that continually rules them.
37 ¹⁹ A man may be shrewd and the teacher of many,
and yet be unprofitable to himself.
37 ²⁰ A man skilled in words may be hated;
he will be destitute of all food,
37 ²¹ for grace was not given him by the Lord,
since he is lacking in all wisdom.
37 ²² A man may be wise to his own advantage,
and the fruits of his understanding may be trustworthy on his lips.
37 ²³ A wise man will instruct his own people,
and the fruits of his understanding will be trustworthy.
37 ²⁴ A wise man will have praise heaped upon him,
and all who see him will call him happy.
37 ²⁵ The life of a man is numbered by days,
but the days of Israel are without number.
37 ²⁶ He who is wise among his people will inherit confidence,
and his name will live for ever.