1A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,15.2 Cn: Heb makes knowledge good

but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

3The eyes of the LORD are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5A fool despises a parent's instruction,

but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.

6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the minds of fools.

8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,

but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

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

but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.

10There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way,

but one who hates a rebuke will die.

11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD,

how much more human hearts!

12Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;

they will not go to the wise.

13A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

14The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15All the days of the poor are hard,

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16Better is a little with the fear of the LORD

than great treasure and trouble with it.

17Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is

than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

18Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,

but those who are slow to anger calm contention.

19The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20A wise child makes a glad father,

but the foolish despise their mothers.

21Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,

but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.

22Without counsel, plans go wrong,

but with many advisers they succeed.

23To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,

and a word in season, how good it is!

24For the wise the path of life leads upwards,

in order to avoid Sheol below.

25The LORD tears down the house of the proud,

but maintains the widow's boundaries.

26Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD,

but gracious words are pure.

27Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,

but those who hate bribes will live.

28The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.

29The LORD is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and good news refreshes the body.

31The ear that heeds wholesome admonition

will lodge among the wise.

32Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,

but those who heed admonition gain understanding.

33The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,

and humility goes before honour.