1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

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

2 T he tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts 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, Watching 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 soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

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

5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.

¶ The fool despises his father’s chastening, but he that regards reproof shall become prudent.

6 G reat wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

¶ 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 spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.

¶ 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 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 to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness.

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

10 G rievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; 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 and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of men!

¶ Sheol and hell are before the LORD; how much more then the hearts of men?

12 A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise.

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

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, 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 the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools 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 afflicted are bad, But a cheerful 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 a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

¶ Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

17 B etter is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

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 the slow to anger calms a dispute.

¶ A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.

19 T he way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is 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 father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.

¶ The wise son makes a glad father, but the foolish man despises his mother.

21 F olly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.

¶ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of understanding, but the man who is intelligent walks uprightly.

22 W ithout consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.

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

23 A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!

¶ 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 life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below.

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

25 T he Lord will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

¶ The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, but he will establish the inheritance of the widow.

26 E vil plans are an abomination to the Lord, But pleasant words are pure.

¶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but the speech of the pure is pure.

27 H e who profits illicitly troubles his own house, 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 heart of the righteous ponders 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 LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 B right eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones.

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

31 H e whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise.

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

32 H e who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

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

33 T he fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.

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