1 Asoft answer turns away wrath,
# Buta harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
# But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
3 The eyes of theLordarein every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongueisa tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s instruction,
# But he who receives correction is prudent.
6 Inthe house of the righteousthereismuch treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fooldoesnotdoso.
8 The sacrifice of the wickedisan abomination to theLord,
But the prayer of the uprightisHis delight.
9 The way of the wickedisan abomination to theLord,
# But He loves him whofollows righteousness.
10 Harsh disciplineisfor him who forsakes the way,
# Andhe who hates correction will die.
11 Hell and Destructionarebefore theLord;
# So how much morethe hearts of the sons of men.
12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.
13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
# Butby sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the afflictedareevil,
# But he who is of a merry hearthasa continual feast.
16 Betterisa little with the fear of theLord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
17 Betterisa dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.
18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,
Buthewhoisslow to anger allays contention.
19 The way of the lazymanislike a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the uprightisa highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Follyisjoytohimwhoisdestitute of discernment,
# But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22 Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
# Anda wordspokenin due season, how gooditis!
24 The way of lifewindsupward for the wise,
# That he mayturn away from hell below.
25 TheLordwill destroy the house of the proud,
# ButHe will establish the boundary of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wickedarean abomination to theLord,
# But the words of the purearepleasant.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteousstudies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
29 TheLordisfar from the wicked,
# ButHe hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
Anda good report makes the bones healthy.
31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 The fear of theLordisthe instruction of wisdom,
# Andbefore honorishumility.