1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but provocative speech stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise drops knowledge,
but the mouth of fools pours out folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
watching the bad and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is life,
but violent words break the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father's instruction.
but he that regards reproof shows wisdom.
6 In the house of the righteous is abundance of wealth,
but the revenue of the wicked is cut off.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
but the mind of fools is unstable.
8 The Lord abhors the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright he welcomes.
9 The Lord abhors the way of the wicked,
but he loves the man that is bent upon righteousness.
10 He that leaves the way will have discipline sore,
he that hates reproof will die.
11 Before the Lord Sheol and Abaddon lie open;
how much more the hearts of men!
12 A scoffer loves not reproof,
he refuses to go with the wise.
13 Joyous heart makes happy face,
but a sorrowful heart makes a stricken spirit
14 The mind of the wise seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 To the sad every day is a bad day,
but an endless feast to the cheerful.
16 Better is little, with the fear of the Lord,
than abundance of treasure and trouble therewith.
17 Better a dish of herbs, with love,
than a fatted ox, with hatred.
18 An angry man stirs up strife,
but a patient man stills contention.
19 The way of the sluggard is hedged with thorns,
but the path of the diligent runs like a highway.
20 A wise son makes his father glad,
but a fool of a man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to a man without sense,
but a man of good sense is straightforward.
22 Plans are frustrated where there is no counsel;
but, when many advise, they succeed.
23 Joy comes to the man who makes happy retort;
and a word in season, how good it is!
24 The wise man's path goes upward to life;
He avoids the way to Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord uproots the house of the proud,
But the bounds of the widow he firmly maintains.
26 Evil devices the Lord abhors,
but gracious words are his delight.
27 He that is grasping destroys his own house,
but he who hates presents will live.
28 Faithfulness broods in the heart of the righteous,
but evil pours from the mouth of the wicked.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but the prayer of the righteous he hears.
30 Shining eyes gladden the heart,
and good news fattens the bones.
31 He that listens to wholesome reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 He despises himself who rejecteth instruction.
but he gains understanding who heeds reproof.
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and honour comes after humility.