¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
⁴ The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
⁶ The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools are not upright.
⁸ The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.
¹¹ Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord-
how much more do human hearts!
¹² Mockers resent correction,
so they avoid the wise.
¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
¹⁴ The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.
¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
¹⁸ A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
¹⁹ The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
²⁰ A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹ Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
²² Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply-
and how good is a timely word!
²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
²⁶ The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but gracious words are pure in his sight.
²⁷ The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
³¹ Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.
³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
³³ Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honor.