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

A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

2 T he tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly.

3 Y ahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil 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 deceit in it crushes the spirit.

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

5 A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

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

6 I n the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

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

7 T he lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.

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

8 T he sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

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

9 T he way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.

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

10 T here is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: whoever hates reproof shall die.

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

11 S heol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

Sheol and destruction before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men.

12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; 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 cheerful face; but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.

14 T he heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.

15 A ll the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

All the days of the afflicted evil, And gladness of heart a perpetual banquet.

16 B etter is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.

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

17 B etter is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.

Better an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19 T he way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.

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 despises his mother.

A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother.

21 F olly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth going.

22 W here there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

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

23 J oy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word 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 upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

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

25 Y ahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.

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

26 Y ahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.

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

27 H e who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

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

28 T he heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

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

29 Y ahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

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

30 T he light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.

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

31 T he ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.

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

32 H e who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.

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

33 T he fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.

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