7 bHear, O children, (concerning) the discipline of the mouthc:

He that keepeth (discipline)d eshall not be taken [captive]e

8 Butf the sinner is ensnaredg throughh his lips,

S iAnd the fool stumbleth through his mouthi.

9 Accustom notk thy mouth to an oath,

lNor make a habit of the naming of the Holy Onem l.

G 10 nFor as a servant who is constantly being questionedn

oLacketh noto the marks of a blow,

So also he that psweareth and is continually naming qthe name of the Lordq p

Is not freer from sins.

11 A man of many oaths s is filled with iniquitys,

And the scourget departeth not from his house;

If he offendu his sin will be upon himv,

wAnd if he disregardx it he sinneth doublyw;

yAnd if he sweareth zwithout needz, he shall not be justifiedy,

aFor his house shall be filled with calamitiesb a.

12 cThere is a manner of speech dthat is to be comparedd with deathc:

Let it not be found in the heritage of Jacob.

S eHe that keepethf his soul from this shall livee,

gAnd not wallow in sinsg.

G 14 hRememberi thy father and thy mother

kWhenl thou sittest in council in the midst of tḥe mightyk,

Lest, perchance, mthou stumblem before them,

[In that] nthou showest thyself [to be] a fooln in thy manner [of speech],

oAnd dost wish thou hadst not been borno,

And cursest the day of thy birth.

13 Accustom not thy mouth to impure manner [of speech],

For pthat is a sinful thingp.

G 15 A man that doth accustom himself to qdisgraceful talkq

rWill not learnr wisdom sall his dayss.

(k) 23:16–27. The Wickedness of Impurity

(= 4 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 3 + 3 + 2 distichs).