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

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

3 T he eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the bad 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 a sinful tongue crushes the spirit.

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

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

the house of the righteous abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked -- trouble.

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

The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools not right.

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

The sacrifice of the wicked an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright His delight.

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

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

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

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

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

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

13 A glad heart makes a happy face, but when the heart is sad, 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 looks for much learning, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolish ways.

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

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

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

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

Better an allowance of green herbs and love there, 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 man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth 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 as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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