1 'n Sagte antwoord keer die grimmigheid af, maar 'n krenkende woord laat die toorn opkom.
2 Die tong van die wyse getuig van grondige kennis, maar die mond van die dwase laat sotheid uitborrel.
3 Op elke plek is die oë van die HERE, en hulle beskou opmerksaam die slegtes en die goeies.
4 Sagtheid van tong is 'n lewensboom, maar valsheid daarin is verbreking in die gees.
5 Die sot verag die tug van sy vader, maar hy wat op die teregwysing ag gee, word wys.
6 In die huis van die regverdige is 'n groot skat, maar in die inkomste van die goddelose is verwarring.
7 Die lippe van die wyse strooi kennis uit, maar die hart van die dwase is nie reg nie.
8 Die offer van die goddelose is vir die HERE 'n gruwel, maar die gebed van die opregtes is Hom welgevallig.
9 Die wandel van die goddelose is vir die HERE 'n gruwel, maar hom wat geregtigheid najaag, het Hy lief.
10 'n Strenge tugtiging is daar vir hom wat die pad verlaat; hy wat die teregwysing haat, sal sterwe.
11 Die doderyk en die plek van vertering lê oop voor die HERE, hoeveel te meer die harte van die mensekinders!
12 Die spotter hou nie daarvan dat 'n mens hom bestraf nie, hy gaan nie na die wyse toe nie.
13 'n Vrolike hart maak die aangesig bly, maar by verdriet van die hart is die gees neerslagtig.
14 Die hart van die verstandige soek na kennis, maar die mond van die dwase gaan met sotheid om.
15 Al die dae van die bedrukte is sleg, maar die vrolike van hart het gedurigdeur fees.
16 Liewer 'n bietjie in die vrees van die HERE, as 'n groot skat en onrus daarby.
17 Liewer 'n porsie groente waar liefde by is, as 'n vetgevoerde bees en haat daarby.
18 'n Driftige man verwek twis, maar die lankmoedige laat die geskil bedaar.
19 Die weg van die luiaard is soos 'n heining van dorings, maar die pad van die opregtes is reggemaak.
20 'n Wyse seun verbly sy vader, maar 'n dwase mens verag sy moeder.
21 Sotheid is 'n vreugde vir die verstandelose, maar 'n man van verstand wandel reguit.
22 Planne misluk sonder beraadslaging, maar deur die veelheid van raadgewers kom dit tot stand.
23 'n Man het blydskap in die regte antwoord van sy mond, en hoe goed is 'n woord op sy tyd!
24 Die pad van die lewe gaan vir die verstandige na bowe, sodat hy die doderyk daaronder ontwyk.
25 Die HERE ruk die huis van die trotsaards om, maar die grenslyn van die weduwee stel Hy vas.
26 Die planne van die slegte is vir die HERE 'n gruwel, maar vriendelike woorde is rein.
27 Wie onregverdige wins maak, bring sy huis in beroering; maar hy wat geskenke haat, sal lewe.
28 Die hart van die regverdige dink n om te antwoord, maar die mond van die goddelose laat slegte dinge uitborrel.
29 Die HERE is ver van die goddelose, maar die gebed van die regverdiges hoor Hy.
30 Stralende oë verbly die hart; 'n goeie tyding maak die gebeente vet.
31 Die oor wat na die teregwysing tot die lewe luister, sal onder die wyse vertoef.
32 Hy wat die tug verwerp, ag sy eie lewe gering; maar hy wat na die teregwysing luister, verkry verstand.
33 Die vrees van die HERE is die tug van die wysheid, en nederigheid gaan aan die eer vooraf.
1 By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.
2 Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
5 A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.
6 In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.
8 The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
9 The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.
10 There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.
11 Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men!
12 The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise.
15 All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
17 Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
18 An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.
19 Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
21 Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
22 Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.
23 A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!
24 Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld.
25 The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.
26 Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.
27 He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.
28 The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.
29 The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.
30 The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.
31 The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.
32 He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.
33 The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.