1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

A soft answer turneth away fury; but a grievous word stirreth up anger.

2 T he tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the fool pours out folly.

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; but the mouth of the foolish poureth out folly.

3 T he eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good.

The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit.

Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s instruction and correction, but he who regards reproof acquires prudence.

A fool despiseth his father's instruction; but he that regardeth reproof becometh prudent.

6 I n the house of the righteous is great treasure, but with the income of the wicked is trouble and vexation.

In the house of a righteous is much treasure; but in the revenue of a wicked is disturbance.

7 T he lips of the wise disperse knowledge; not so the minds and hearts of the self-confident and foolish.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but not so the heart of the foolish.

8 T he sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight!

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9 T he way of the wicked is an abomination, extremely disgusting and shamefully vile to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).

The way of a wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but him that pursueth righteousness he loveth.

10 T here is severe discipline for him who forsakes God’s way; and he who hates reproof will die.

Grievous correction is for him that forsaketh the path; he that hateth reproof shall die.

11 S heol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the final place of the accuser Satan) are both before the Lord—how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men?

Sheol and destruction are before Jehovah; how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

12 A scorner has no love for one who rebukes him; neither will he go to the wise.

A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him; he will not go unto the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

A joyful heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

14 T he mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge and inquires after and craves it, but the mouth of the fool feeds on folly.

The heart of an intelligent seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish feedeth on folly.

15 A ll the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil, but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast.

All the days of the afflicted are evil; but a cheerful heart is a continual feast.

16 B etter is little with the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord than great and rich treasure and trouble with it.

Better is little with the fear of Jehovah than great store and disquietude therewith.

17 B etter is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

Better is a meal of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred therewith.

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger appeases contention.

A furious man stirreth up contention; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19 T he way of the sluggard is overgrown with thorns, but the way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway.

The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; but the path of the upright is made plain.

20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a self-confident and foolish man despises his mother and puts her to shame.

A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

21 F olly is pleasure to him who is without heart and sense, but a man of understanding walks uprightly.

Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.

22 W here there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.

Without counsel purposes are disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

23 A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is!

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word in its season, how good is it!

24 T he path of the wise leads upward to life, that he may avoid in the depths of Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead).

The path of life is upwards for the wise, that he may depart from Sheol beneath.

25 T he Lord tears down the house of the proud, but He makes secure the boundaries of the widow.

Jehovah plucketh up the house of the proud; but he establisheth the boundary of the widow.

26 T he thoughts of the wicked are shamefully vile and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasing words to Him.

The thoughts of the evil are an abomination to Jehovah; but pure words are pleasant.

27 H e who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

28 T he mind of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

The heart of a righteous studieth to answer; but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

29 T he Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him).

Jehovah is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

30 T he light in the eyes rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones.

That which enlighteneth the eyes rejoiceth the heart; good tidings make the bones fat.

31 T he ear that listens to the reproof life will remain among the wise.

The ear that heareth the reproof of life shall abide among the wise.

32 H e who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding.

He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth reproof getteth sense.

33 T he reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

The fear of Jehovah is the discipline of wisdom, and before honour humility.