1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools gush out folly.

3 Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s correction,

but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure,

but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so with the heart of fools.

8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,

but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,

but he loves him who follows after righteousness.

10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.

Whoever hates reproof shall die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh—

how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched,

but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh,

than great treasure with trouble.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,

than a fattened calf with hatred.

18 A wrathful man stirs up contention,

but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,

but the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son makes a father glad,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,

but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.

22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail;

but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.

How good is a word at the right time!

24 The path of life leads upward for the wise,

to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud,

but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.

26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked,

but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

29 Yahweh is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.

Good news gives health to the bones.

31 The ear that listens to reproof lives,

and will be at home among the wise.

32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul,

but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.

33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom.

Before honor is humility.

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise shall adorn wisdom, but the mouth of fools shall speak foolishness.

3 The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding those [who are] evil and those [who are] good.

4 The wholesome tongue [is a] tree of life, but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.

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

6 In the house of the righteous [is] much provision, but in the fruit of the wicked is trouble.

7 The lips of the wise disperse wisdom, but the heart of the foolish [does] not so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.

9 The way of the wicked [is] an abomination unto the LORD, but he loves him that follows after righteousness.

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

11 Sheol and hell [are] before the LORD; how much more then the hearts of men?

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

13 A joyful heart makes a beautiful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is abated.

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

15 All the days of the poor [are] difficult, but he that is of a good heart [has] a continual feast.

16 Better [is] little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

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

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

19 The way of the slothful [man is] as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the righteous [is] made plain.

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

21 Folly [is] joy to [him that is] destitute of understanding, but the man who is intelligent walks uprightly.

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

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word [spoken] in due season, how good [it is]!

24 The way of life [is] uphill to the wise, that he may separate himself from Sheol below.

25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, but he will establish the inheritance of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked [are] an abomination to the LORD, but the speech of the pure is pure.

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

28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The LORD [is] far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, [and] a good report makes the bones fat.

31 The ear that hears the reproof of life shall abide among the wise.

32 He that refuses chastening despises his own soul, but he that hears reproof has an [understanding] heart.

33 The fear of the LORD [is] the instruction of wisdom, and before honour [is] humility.: