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

¶ A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir 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 shall adorn wisdom, but the mouth of fools shall speak foolishness.

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

¶ The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding those who are evil and those who are good.

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

¶ The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

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

¶ The fool despises his father’s chastening, but he that regards reproof shall become 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 the righteous is much provision, but in the fruit of the wicked is trouble.

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 wisdom, but the heart of the foolish does not so.

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 the LORD, 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 the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD, but he loves him that follows after righteousness.

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

¶ Chastening is grievous unto him that forsakes the way, but he that hates 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 hell are before the LORD; how much more then the hearts of men?

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

¶ The scorner does not love the one that reproves him, neither will he go unto the wise.

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

¶ A joyful heart makes a beautiful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is abated.

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 him that has understanding seeks wisdom, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

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 poor are difficult, but he that is of a good heart has 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 the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

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

Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted calf and hatred therewith.

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

¶ A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeases 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 slothful man is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the righteous 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.

¶ The wise son makes a glad father, but the foolish man despises 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 destitute of understanding, but the man who is intelligent walks uprightly.

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 has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

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 way of life is uphill to the wise, that he may separate himself from Sheol below.

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

¶ The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, but he will establish the inheritance 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 wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but the speech of the pure is pure.

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 troubles his own house, but he that hates 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 the righteous studies to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours 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).

¶ The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

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

¶ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones fat.

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

¶ The ear that hears 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 refuses chastening despises his own soul, but he that hears reproof has an understanding heart.

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

¶ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility.