1 A gentle answer turns away anger, but a sharp word causes anger.

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

2 T he tongue of the wise uses much learning in a good way, but the mouth of fools speaks in a foolish way.

The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the fool pours out folly.

3 T he eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the bad and the good.

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

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a sinful tongue crushes the spirit.

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

5 A fool turns away from the strong teaching of his father, but he who remembers the strong words spoken to him is wise.

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

6 G reat riches are in the house of those who are right with God, but trouble is what the sinful will receive.

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

7 T he lips of the wise spread much learning, but the minds of fools do not.

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

8 T he Lord hates the gifts of the sinful, but the prayer of the faithful is His joy.

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

9 T he Lord hates the way of the sinful, but He loves him who follows what is right and good.

The 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).

10 H e who turns from the right way will be punished. He who hates strong words spoken to him will die.

There is severe discipline for him who forsakes God’s way; and he who hates reproof will die.

11 T he world of the dead lies open before the Lord. How much more the hearts of men!

Sheol (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?

12 A man who laughs at the truth has no love for the one who speaks strong words to him. He will not go to the wise.

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

13 A glad heart makes a happy face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

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

14 T he mind of him who has understanding looks for much learning, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolish ways.

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

15 A ll the days of the suffering are hard, but a glad heart has a special supper all the time.

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

16 A little with the fear of the Lord is better than great riches with trouble.

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

17 A dish of vegetables with love is better than eating the best meat with hate.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

18 A man with a bad temper starts fights, but he who is slow to anger quiets fighting.

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

19 T he path of the lazy man is grown over with thorns, but the path of the faithful is a good road.

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

20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man hates his mother.

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

21 A foolish way is joy to him who has no wisdom, but a man of understanding walks straight.

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

22 P lans go wrong without talking together, but they will go well when many wise men talk about what to do.

Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.

23 T o give a good answer is a joy to a man, and how pleasing is a word given at the right time!

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

24 T he path of life leads up for the wise, so he may keep away from hell below.

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

25 T he Lord will tear down the house of the proud, but He will make a place for the woman whose husband has died.

The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but He makes secure the boundaries of the widow.

26 T he Lord hates the plans of the sinful, but the words of the pure are pleasing to Him.

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

27 H e who gets things by doing wrong brings trouble to his family, but he who will not be paid in secret for wrong-doing will live.

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

28 T he mind of the one who is right with God thinks about how to answer, but the mouth of the sinful pours out sinful things.

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

29 T he Lord is far from the sinful, but He hears the prayer of those who are right with Him.

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

30 T he light of the eyes makes the heart glad. Good news puts fat on the bones.

The light in the eyes rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones.

31 H e whose ear listens to careful words spoken will live among the wise.

The ear that listens to the reproof life will remain among the wise.

32 H e who does not listen to strong teaching hates himself, but he who listens when strong words are spoken gets understanding.

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

33 T he fear of the Lord is the teaching for wisdom, and having no pride comes before honor.

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