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

A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth 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 maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.

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

In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good.

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

A healed tongue a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.

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

A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent.

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

the house of the righteous abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked -- 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 scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools not right.

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 an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright 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).

An abomination to Jehovah the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth.

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

Chastisement grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.

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 before Jehovah, Surely also 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 scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not.

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

A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.

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 the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth 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 evil, And gladness of heart a perpetual banquet.

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

Better a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

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

Better an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

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

A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the 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 slothful as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.

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 rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising 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 one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth going.

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

Without counsel the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.

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

Joy to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season -- how good!

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).

A path of life on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath.

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

The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border 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.

An abomination to Jehovah thoughts of wickedness, And pure sayings of pleasantness.

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

A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.

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 meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth 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).

Far Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth.

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

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone.

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

An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.

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

Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding.

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

The fear of Jehovah the instruction of wisdom, And before honour humility!