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

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

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

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks 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, But he who receives correction is 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 there is much treasure, But in the revenue 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 knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do 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 to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness.

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

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

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

Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons 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 scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor 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 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 looks for much learning, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolish ways.

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, 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 afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

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

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.

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 calf with hatred.

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 who is slow to anger allays 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 lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.

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

A wise son makes a father glad, But a 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 who is destitute of discernment, 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.

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

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 gain troubles his own house, 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 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 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 healthy.

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

The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will 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 who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

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 honor is humility.