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 shall adorn wisdom, but the mouth of fools shall speak foolishness.

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, beholding those who are evil and those who are good.

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

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

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

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 much provision, but in the fruit of the wicked is trouble.

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

¶ The lips of the wise disperse wisdom, but the heart of the foolish does not so.

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 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 unto the LORD, but he loves him that follows after righteousness.

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

¶ Chastening is grievous unto him that forsakes the way, but he that hates reproof shall die.

11 T he world of the dead lies 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 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.

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

13 A glad heart makes a happy 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 him who has understanding looks for much learning, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolish ways.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 hates his mother.

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

21 A foolish way is joy to him who has no wisdom, 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 P lans go wrong without talking together, but they will go well when many wise men talk about what to do.

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

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

24 T he path of life leads up for the wise, so he may keep away from hell 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 make a place for the woman whose husband has died.

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

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 that is greedy of gain troubles his own house, but he that hates gifts shall 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 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 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.

30 T he light of the eyes makes the heart glad. 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 careful words spoken will live among the wise.

¶ The ear that hears the reproof of life shall abide 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 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 teaching for wisdom, and having no pride comes before honor.

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