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

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs 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 uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth 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, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

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

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

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

A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is 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 there is much treasure, But in the revenue 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 knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do 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 to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness.

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

Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will 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?

Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

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

A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.

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

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the 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 him who has understanding seeks knowledge, 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 afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry 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 a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.

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

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.

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 who is slow to anger allays contention.

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 lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.

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 makes a father glad, But a 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 who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

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

Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors 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 winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell 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 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 wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant.

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

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will 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 how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

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 healthy.

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

The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise.

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

He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

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 honor is humility.